- Patch #551658 by Stevel: improve directory testing.

includes/file.inc

@@ -1982,7 +1982,11 @@ function file_directory_temp() {
       $path_delimiter = '/';
     }
     // PHP may be able to find an alternative tmp directory.
-    $directories[] = sys_get_temp_dir();
+    // This function exists in PHP 5 >= 5.2.1, but Drupal
+    // requires PHP 5 >= 5.2.0, so we check for it.
+    if (function_exists('sys_get_temp_dir')) {
+      $directories[] = sys_get_temp_dir();
+    }
 
     foreach ($directories as $directory) {
       if (is_dir($directory) && is_writable($directory)) {
@@ -1991,9 +1995,9 @@ function file_directory_temp() {
       }
     }
 
-    // if a directory has been found, use it, otherwise default to 'files/tmp' or 'files\\tmp';
+    // if a directory has been found, use it, otherwise default to 'files/tmp' or 'files\\tmp'.
     if (empty($temporary_directory)) {
-      $temporary_directory = file_directory_path() . $path_delimiter .'tmp';
+      $temporary_directory = file_directory_path() . $path_delimiter . 'tmp';
     }
     // Save the path of the discovered directory.
     variable_set('file_directory_temp', $temporary_directory);

modules/system/system.install

@@ -269,8 +269,18 @@ function system_requirements($phase) {
     // By default no private files directory is configured. For private files
     // to be secure the admin needs to provide a path outside the webroot.
     variable_get('file_private_path', FALSE),
-    variable_get('file_temporary_path', sys_get_temp_dir()),
   );
+
+  // Do not check for the temporary files directory at install time
+  // unless it has been set in settings.php. In this case the user has
+  // no alternative but to fix the directory if it is not writable.
+  if ($phase == 'install') {
+    $directories[] = variable_get('file_temporary_path', FALSE);
+  }
+  else {
+    $directories[] = variable_get('file_temporary_path', file_directory_temp());
+  }
+
   $requirements['file system'] = array(
     'title' => $t('File system'),
   );