=== modified file 'modules/system/system.install'
--- modules/system/system.install	2006-12-06 16:24:12 +0000
+++ modules/system/system.install	2006-12-07 12:46:14 +0000
@@ -106,6 +106,39 @@ function system_requirements($phase) {
     $requirements['cron']['title'] = $t('Cron maintenance tasks');
   }
 
+  // Test files directory
+  if ($phase == 'runtime') {
+    $directory = file_directory_path();
+    $is_writable = is_writable($directory);
+    $is_directory = is_dir($directory);
+    if (!$is_writable || !$is_directory) {
+      if (!$is_directory) {
+        $error = $t('The directory %directory does not exist.', array('%directory' => $directory));
+      }
+      else {
+        $error = $t('The directory %directory is not writable.', array('%directory' => $directory));
+      }
+      $requirements['file system'] = array(
+        'value' => $t('Not writable'),
+        'severity' => REQUIREMENT_WARNING,
+        'description' => $error .' '. $t('You may need to set the correct directory at the !admin-file-system settings page or change the current directory\'s permissions so that it is writable.', array('!admin-file-system' => l($t('File system'), 'admin/settings/file-system'))),
+      );
+    }
+    else {
+      if (variable_get('file_downloads', FILE_DOWNLOADS_PUBLIC) == FILE_DOWNLOADS_PUBLIC) {
+        $requirements['file system'] = array(
+          'value' => $t('Writable and set to <em>public</em> download method'),
+        );
+      }
+      else {
+        $requirements['file system'] = array(
+          'value' => $t('Writable and set to <em>private</em> download method'),
+        );        
+      }
+    }
+    $requirements['file system']['title'] = $t('Files directory');
+  }
+
   // See if updates are available in update.php.
   if ($phase == 'runtime') {
     $requirements['update'] = array(