diff --git a/core/install/install.php b/core/install/install.php
index dd1c3a635d..bc9538bde4 100644
--- a/core/install/install.php
+++ b/core/install/install.php
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@
 	require_once "resources/functions.php";
 	require_once "resources/classes/text.php";
 
+//start a php session
+	session_start();
+
+//set theme settings
+	$_SESSION['theme']['footer_color'] = '#cccccc';
+	$_SESSION['theme']['footer_background_color'] = '#ffffff';
+
 //initialize variables we are going to use
 	$event_host = '';
 	$event_port = '';
diff --git a/resources/require.php b/resources/require.php
index c384b55482..bf146a6b97 100644
--- a/resources/require.php
+++ b/resources/require.php
@@ -29,15 +29,15 @@
 
 //find and include the config.php file
 	if (file_exists("/etc/fusionpbx/config.php")) {
+		$config_exists = true;
 		include "/etc/fusionpbx/config.php";
 	}
 	elseif (file_exists("/usr/local/etc/fusionpbx/config.php")) {
+		$config_exists = true;
 		include "/usr/local/etc/fusionpbx/config.php";
 	}
 	elseif (file_exists("resources/config.php")) {
-		include "resources/config.php";
-	}
-	else {
+		$config_exists = true;
 		include "resources/config.php";
 	}
 
@@ -71,9 +71,11 @@
 
 //additional includes
 	require_once "resources/php.php";
-	require "resources/pdo.php";
 	require_once "resources/functions.php";
-	require_once "resources/switch.php";
+	if ($config_exists) {
+		require "resources/pdo.php";
+		require_once "resources/switch.php";
+	}
 
 //change language on the fly - for translate tool (if available)
 	if (isset($_REQUEST['view_lang_code']) && ($_REQUEST['view_lang_code']) != '') {