diff --git a/includes/bootstrap.inc b/includes/bootstrap.inc
index a8da6fcb24b087c0ae82e30a186694ffd6c5a77a..5345d59260a8edaa84820eb32f939632d38eddd9 100644
--- a/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -369,7 +369,6 @@ function conf_init() {
  */
 function drupal_get_filename($type, $name, $filename = NULL) {
   static $files = array();
-  global $active_db;
 
   if (!isset($files[$type])) {
     $files[$type] = array();
@@ -385,7 +384,7 @@ function drupal_get_filename($type, $name, $filename = NULL) {
   // the database.  This is required because this function is called both
   // before we have a database connection (i.e. during installation) and
   // when a database connection fails.
-  elseif ($active_db && (($file = db_result(db_query("SELECT filename FROM {system} WHERE name = '%s' AND type = '%s'", $name, $type))) && file_exists($file))) {
+  elseif (db_is_active() && (($file = db_result(db_query("SELECT filename FROM {system} WHERE name = '%s' AND type = '%s'", $name, $type))) && file_exists($file))) {
     $files[$type][$name] = $file;
   }
   else {
@@ -971,35 +970,16 @@ function _drupal_bootstrap($phase) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Enables use of the theme system without requiring database access. Since
- * there is not database access no theme will be enabled and the default
- * themeable functions will be called. Some themeable functions can not be used
- * without the full Drupal API loaded. For example, theme_page() is
- * unavailable and theme_maintenance_page() must be used in its place.
+ * Enables use of the theme system without requiring database access.
+ *
+ * Loads and initializes the theme system for site installs, updates and when
+ * the site is in off-line mode. This also applies when the database fails.
+ *
+ * @see _drupal_maintenance_theme()
  */
 function drupal_maintenance_theme() {
-  global $theme;
-  require_once './includes/path.inc';
-  require_once './includes/theme.inc';
-  require_once './includes/common.inc';
-  require_once './includes/unicode.inc';
-  require_once './includes/file.inc';
-  require_once './modules/filter/filter.module';
-  unicode_check();
-  drupal_add_css(drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/defaults.css', 'module');
-  drupal_add_css(drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/system.css', 'module');
-  drupal_add_css(drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/system-menus.css', 'module');
-  $theme = '';
-
-  // Special case registry of theme functions used by the installer
-  $themes = drupal_common_themes();
-  foreach ($themes as $hook => $info) {
-    if (!isset($info['file']) && !isset($info['function'])) {
-      $themes[$hook]['function'] = 'theme_'. $hook;
-      $themes[$hook]['theme path'] = 'misc';
-    }
-  }
-  _theme_set_registry($themes);
+  require_once './includes/theme.maintenance.inc';
+  _drupal_maintenance_theme();
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/includes/common.inc b/includes/common.inc
index 6455bdb71177be18d8ca215a553314d0538fba43..4af694080e756c12e7e79b5fc2c0c73bcd5a0a51 100644
--- a/includes/common.inc
+++ b/includes/common.inc
@@ -2865,7 +2865,7 @@ function element_children($element) {
 /**
  * Provide theme registration for themes across .inc files.
  */
-function drupal_common_themes() {
+function drupal_common_theme() {
   return array(
     // theme.inc
     'placeholder' => array(
@@ -2876,6 +2876,10 @@ function drupal_common_themes() {
       'template' => 'page',
     ),
     'maintenance_page' => array(
+      'arguments' => array('content' => NULL, 'show_blocks' => TRUE, 'show_messages' => TRUE),
+      'template' => 'maintenance-page',
+    ),
+    'update_page' => array(
       'arguments' => array('content' => NULL, 'show_messages' => TRUE),
     ),
     'install_page' => array(
diff --git a/includes/database.inc b/includes/database.inc
index 63536e036be7d9106cdf461fb6840f22fef6b68e..917fbb830a9aa9821cee86814d77f04e28c31101 100644
--- a/includes/database.inc
+++ b/includes/database.inc
@@ -163,6 +163,14 @@ function db_set_active($name = 'default') {
   return array_search($previous_db, $db_conns);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns a boolean depending on the availability of the database.
+ */
+function db_is_active() {
+  global $active_db;
+  return !empty($active_db);
+}
+
 /**
  * Helper function for db_query().
  */
diff --git a/includes/install.inc b/includes/install.inc
index f034dda851024ef11cfc46292342d1dcf885f102..04f7939b0c56dc4c82462011ae904e357fc24cb1 100644
--- a/includes/install.inc
+++ b/includes/install.inc
@@ -615,7 +615,6 @@ function st($string, $args = array()) {
   }
 
   require_once './includes/theme.inc';
-  $GLOBALS['theme'] = 'theme';
   // Transform arguments before inserting them
   foreach ($args as $key => $value) {
     switch ($key[0]) {
diff --git a/includes/theme.inc b/includes/theme.inc
index 89825dba5093620cf3e6c812c1146510e6d8227a..e0e10cafaf924861fba0e1b149c4fa818753f587 100644
--- a/includes/theme.inc
+++ b/includes/theme.inc
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
  * Initialize the theme system by loading the theme.
  */
 function init_theme() {
-  global $theme, $user, $custom_theme, $theme_engine, $theme_key;
+  global $theme, $user, $custom_theme, $theme_key;
 
   // If $theme is already set, assume the others are set, too, and do nothing
   if (isset($theme)) {
@@ -82,8 +82,10 @@ function init_theme() {
  *    the same information as the $theme object. It should be in
  *    'oldest first' order, meaning the top level of the chain will
  *    be first.
+ * @param $registry_callback
+ *   The callback to invoke to set the theme registry.
  */
-function _init_theme($theme, $base_theme = array()) {
+function _init_theme($theme, $base_theme = array(), $registry_callback = '_theme_load_registry') {
   global $theme_info, $base_theme_info, $theme_engine, $theme_path;
   $theme_info = $theme;
   $base_theme_info = $base_theme;
@@ -174,7 +176,8 @@ function _init_theme($theme, $base_theme = array()) {
       include_once './'. $theme->owner;
     }
   }
-  _theme_load_registry($theme, $base_theme, $theme_engine);
+
+  $registry_callback($theme, $base_theme, $theme_engine);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -394,6 +397,9 @@ function _theme_build_registry($theme, $base_theme, $theme_engine) {
 /**
  * Provides a list of currently available themes.
  *
+ * If the database is active then it will be retrieved from the database.
+ * Otherwise it will retrieve a new list.
+ *
  * @param $refresh
  *   Whether to reload the list of themes from the database.
  * @return
@@ -408,59 +414,42 @@ function list_themes($refresh = FALSE) {
 
   if (empty($list)) {
     $list = array();
-    $result = db_query("SELECT * FROM {system} WHERE type = '%s'", 'theme');
-    while ($theme = db_fetch_object($result)) {
-      if (file_exists($theme->filename)) {
-        $theme->info = unserialize($theme->info);
-        foreach ($theme->info['stylesheets'] as $media => $stylesheets) {
-          foreach ($stylesheets as $stylesheet => $path) {
-            if (file_exists($path)) {
-              $theme->stylesheets[$media][$stylesheet] = $path;
-            }
-          }
+    $themes = array();
+    // Extract from the database only when it is available.
+    if (db_is_active()) {
+      $result = db_query("SELECT * FROM {system} WHERE type = '%s'", 'theme');
+      while ($theme = db_fetch_object($result)) {
+        if (file_exists($theme->filename)) {
+          $theme->info = unserialize($theme->info);
+          $themes[] = $theme;
         }
-        foreach ($theme->info['scripts'] as $script => $path) {
+      }
+    }
+    else {
+      // When the database is unavailable, scan the installation.
+      $themes = _system_theme_data();
+    }
+
+    foreach ($themes as $theme) {
+      foreach ($theme->info['stylesheets'] as $media => $stylesheets) {
+        foreach ($stylesheets as $stylesheet => $path) {
           if (file_exists($path)) {
-            $theme->scripts[$script] = $path;
+            $theme->stylesheets[$media][$stylesheet] = $path;
           }
         }
-        if (isset($theme->info['engine'])) {
-          $theme->engine = $theme->info['engine'];
-        }
-        if (isset($theme->info['base theme'])) {
-          $theme->base_theme = $theme->info['base theme'];
+      }
+      foreach ($theme->info['scripts'] as $script => $path) {
+        if (file_exists($path)) {
+          $theme->scripts[$script] = $path;
         }
-        $list[$theme->name] = $theme;
       }
-    }
-  }
-
-  return $list;
-}
-
-/**
- * Provides a list of currently available theme engines
- *
- * @param $refresh
- *   Whether to reload the list of themes from the database.
- * @return
- *   An array of the currently available theme engines.
- */
-function list_theme_engines($refresh = FALSE) {
-  static $list;
-
-  if ($refresh) {
-    unset($list);
-  }
-
-  if (!$list) {
-    $list = array();
-    $result = db_query("SELECT * FROM {system} WHERE type = '%s' AND status = %d ORDER BY name", 'theme_engine', '1');
-    while ($engine = db_fetch_object($result)) {
-      if (file_exists($engine->filename)) {
-        $engine->info = unserialize($engine->info);
-        $list[$engine->name] = $engine;
+      if (isset($theme->info['engine'])) {
+        $theme->engine = $theme->info['engine'];
       }
+      if (isset($theme->info['base theme'])) {
+        $theme->base_theme = $theme->info['base theme'];
+      }
+      $list[$theme->name] = $theme;
     }
   }
 
@@ -1028,117 +1017,6 @@ function theme_placeholder($text) {
   return '<em>'. check_plain($text) .'</em>';
 }
 
-/**
- * Generate a themed maintenance page.
- *
- * Note: this function is not themeable.
- *
- * @param $content
- *   The page content to show.
- * @param $show_messages
- *   Whether to output status and error messages.
- *   FALSE can be useful to postpone the messages to a subsequent page.
- */
-function theme_maintenance_page($content, $show_messages = TRUE) {
-  // Set required headers.
-  drupal_set_header('Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8');
-  drupal_set_html_head('<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="'. base_path() .'misc/maintenance.css" />');
-  drupal_set_html_head('<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="'. base_path() . drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/defaults.css" />');
-  drupal_set_html_head('<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="'. base_path() . drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/system.css" />');
-  drupal_set_html_head('<link rel="shortcut icon" href="'. base_path() .'misc/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />');
-
-  // Prepare variables.
-  $variables = array(
-    'head_title' => strip_tags(drupal_get_title()),
-    'head' => drupal_get_html_head(),
-    'styles' => '',
-    'scripts' => drupal_get_js(),
-    'left' => drupal_get_content('left'),
-    'right' => drupal_get_content('right'),
-    'base_path' => base_path(),
-    'path_to_theme' => base_path() .'themes/garland/minnelli',
-    'logo' => base_path() .'themes/garland/minnelli/logo.png',
-    'site_title' => t('Drupal'),
-    'title' => drupal_get_title(),
-    'messages' => $show_messages ? theme('status_messages') : '',
-    'content' => $content,
-  );
-
-  $output = theme_render_template('misc/maintenance.tpl.php', $variables);
-
-  return $output;
-}
-
-/**
- * Generate a themed installation page.
- *
- * Note: this function is not themeable.
- *
- * @param $content
- *   The page content to show.
- */
-function theme_install_page($content) {
-  drupal_set_header('Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8');
-  drupal_add_css('misc/maintenance.css', 'module', 'all', FALSE);
-  drupal_set_html_head('<link rel="shortcut icon" href="'. base_path() .'misc/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />');
-
-  $variables = array(
-    'head_title' => strip_tags(drupal_get_title()),
-    'head' => drupal_get_html_head(),
-    'styles' => drupal_get_css(),
-    'scripts' => drupal_get_js(),
-    'left' => drupal_get_content('left'),
-    'right' => drupal_get_content('right'),
-    'base_path' => base_path(),
-    'path_to_theme' => base_path() .'themes/garland/minnelli',
-    'logo' => base_path() .'themes/garland/minnelli/logo.png',
-    'site_title' => st('Drupal Installation'),
-    'title' => drupal_get_title(),
-    'messages' => '',
-    'content' => $content,
-  );
-
-  // Special handling of error messages
-  $messages = drupal_set_message();
-  if (isset($messages['error'])) {
-    $title = count($messages['error']) > 1 ? st('The following errors must be resolved before you can continue the installation process') : st('The following error must be resolved before you can continue the installation process');
-    $variables['messages'] .= '<h3>'. $title .':</h3>';
-    $variables['messages'] .= theme('status_messages', 'error');
-    $variables['content'] .= '<p>'. st('Please check the error messages and <a href="!url">try again</a>.', array('!url' => request_uri())) .'</p>';
-  }
-
-  // Special handling of status messages
-  if (isset($messages['status'])) {
-    $warnings = count($messages['status']) > 1 ? st('The following installation warnings should be carefully reviewed, but in most cases may be safely ignored') : st('The following installation warning should be carefully reviewed, but in most cases may be safely ignored');
-    $variables['messages'] .= '<h4>'. $title .':</h4>';
-    $variables['messages'] .= theme('status_messages', 'status');
-  }
-
-  return theme_render_template('misc/maintenance.tpl.php', $variables);
-}
-
-/**
- * Return a themed list of maintenance tasks to perform.
- *
- * Note: this function is not themeable.
- */
-function theme_task_list($items, $active = NULL) {
-  $done = isset($items[$active]) || $active == NULL;
-  $output = '<ol class="task-list">';
-  foreach ($items as $k => $item) {
-    if ($active == $k) {
-      $class = 'active';
-      $done = false;
-    }
-    else {
-      $class = $done ? 'done' : '';
-    }
-    $output .= '<li class="'. $class .'">'. $item .'</li>';
-  }
-  $output .= '</ol>';
-  return $output;
-}
-
 /**
  * Return a themed set of status and/or error messages. The messages are grouped
  * by type.
@@ -1733,11 +1611,21 @@ function template_preprocess(&$variables, $hook) {
 
   // Tell all templates where they are located.
   $variables['directory'] = path_to_theme();
-  // Flag front page status.
-  $variables['is_front'] = drupal_is_front_page();
-  // Tell all templates by which kind of user they're viewed.
-  $variables['logged_in'] = ($user->uid > 0);
-  $variables['is_admin'] = user_access('access administration pages');
+  
+  // Set default variables that depend on the database.
+  $variables['is_admin']            = FALSE;
+  $variables['is_front']            = FALSE;
+  $variables['logged_in']           = FALSE;
+  if ($variables['db_is_active'] = db_is_active()) {
+    // Check for administrators.
+    if (user_access('access administration pages')) {
+      $variables['is_admin'] = TRUE;
+    }
+    // Flag front page status.
+    $variables['is_front'] = drupal_is_front_page();
+    // Tell all templates by which kind of user they're viewed.
+    $variables['logged_in'] = ($user->uid > 0);
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1750,6 +1638,9 @@ function template_preprocess(&$variables, $hook) {
  * Uses the arg() function to generate a series of page template suggestions
  * based on the current path.
  *
+ * Any changes to variables in this preprocessor should also be changed inside
+ * template_preprocess_maintenance_page() to keep all them consistent.
+ *
  * The $variables array contains the following arguments:
  * - $content
  * - $show_blocks
@@ -1757,7 +1648,7 @@ function template_preprocess(&$variables, $hook) {
  * @see page.tpl.php
  */
 function template_preprocess_page(&$variables) {
-  /* Add favicon */
+  // Add favicon
   if (theme_get_setting('toggle_favicon')) {
     drupal_set_html_head('<link rel="shortcut icon" href="'. check_url(theme_get_setting('favicon')) .'" type="image/x-icon" />');
   }
diff --git a/includes/theme.maintenance.inc b/includes/theme.maintenance.inc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..cfc34e09bced022448c1fe424154c36971437d65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/includes/theme.maintenance.inc
@@ -0,0 +1,258 @@
+<?php
+// $Id$
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Theming for maintenance pages.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Sets up the theming system for site installs, updates and when the site is
+ * in off-line mode. It also applies when the database is unavailable.
+ *
+ * Minnelli is always used for the initial install and update operations. In
+ * other cases, "settings.php" must have a "maintenance_theme" key set for the
+ * $conf variable in order to change the maintenance theme.
+ */
+function _drupal_maintenance_theme() {
+  global $theme, $theme_key;
+
+  // If $theme is already set, assume the others are set too, and do nothing.
+  if (isset($theme)) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  require_once './includes/path.inc';
+  require_once './includes/theme.inc';
+  require_once './includes/common.inc';
+  require_once './includes/unicode.inc';
+  require_once './includes/file.inc';
+  require_once './includes/module.inc';
+  require_once './includes/database.inc';
+  unicode_check();
+
+  // Load module basics (needed for hook invokes).
+  $module_list['system']['filename'] = 'modules/system/system.module';
+  $module_list['filter']['filename'] = 'modules/filter/filter.module';
+  module_list(TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, $module_list);
+  drupal_load('module', 'system');
+  drupal_load('module', 'filter');
+
+  $themes = list_themes();
+
+  // Install and update pages are treated differently to prevent theming overrides.
+  if (defined('MAINTENANCE_MODE') && (MAINTENANCE_MODE == 'install' || MAINTENANCE_MODE == 'update')) {
+    $theme = 'minnelli';
+  }
+  else {
+    $theme = variable_get('maintenance_theme', 'minnelli');
+  }
+
+  // Store the identifier for retrieving theme settings with.
+  $theme_key = $theme;
+
+  // Find all our ancestor themes and put them in an array.
+  $base_theme = array();
+  $ancestor = $theme;
+  while ($ancestor && isset($themes[$ancestor]->base_theme)) {
+    $base_theme[] = $new_base_theme = $themes[$themes[$ancestor]->base_theme];
+    $ancestor = $themes[$ancestor]->base_theme;
+  }
+  _init_theme($themes[$theme], array_reverse($base_theme), '_theme_load_offline_registry');
+
+  // These are usually added from system_init() -except maintenance.css.
+  // When the database is inactive it's not called so we add it here.
+  drupal_add_css(drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/defaults.css', 'module');
+  drupal_add_css(drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/system.css', 'module');
+  drupal_add_css(drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/system-menus.css', 'module');
+  drupal_add_css(drupal_get_path('module', 'system') .'/maintenance.css', 'module');
+}
+
+/**
+ * This builds the registry when the site needs to bypass any database calls.
+ */
+function _theme_load_offline_registry($theme, $base_theme = NULL, $theme_engine = NULL) {
+  $registry = _theme_build_registry($theme, $base_theme, $theme_engine);
+  _theme_set_registry($registry);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return a themed list of maintenance tasks to perform.
+ */
+function theme_task_list($items, $active = NULL) {
+  $done = isset($items[$active]) || $active == NULL;
+  $output = '<ol class="task-list">';
+  foreach ($items as $k => $item) {
+    if ($active == $k) {
+      $class = 'active';
+      $done = false;
+    }
+    else {
+      $class = $done ? 'done' : '';
+    }
+    $output .= '<li class="'. $class .'">'. $item .'</li>';
+  }
+  $output .= '</ol>';
+  return $output;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Generate a themed installation page.
+ *
+ * Note: this function is not themeable.
+ *
+ * @param $content
+ *   The page content to show.
+ */
+function theme_install_page($content) {
+  drupal_set_header('Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8');
+
+  // Assign content.
+  $variables['content'] = $content;
+  // Delay setting the message variable so it can be processed below.
+  $variables['show_messages'] = FALSE;
+  // The maintenance preprocess function is recycled here.
+  template_preprocess_maintenance_page($variables);
+
+  // Special handling of error messages
+  $messages = drupal_set_message();
+  if (isset($messages['error'])) {
+    $title = count($messages['error']) > 1 ? st('The following errors must be resolved before you can continue the installation process') : st('The following error must be resolved before you can continue the installation process');
+    $variables['messages'] .= '<h3>'. $title .':</h3>';
+    $variables['messages'] .= theme('status_messages', 'error');
+    $variables['content'] .= '<p>'. st('Please check the error messages and <a href="!url">try again</a>.', array('!url' => request_uri())) .'</p>';
+  }
+
+  // Special handling of status messages
+  if (isset($messages['status'])) {
+    $warnings = count($messages['status']) > 1 ? st('The following installation warnings should be carefully reviewed, but in most cases may be safely ignored') : st('The following installation warning should be carefully reviewed, but in most cases may be safely ignored');
+    $variables['messages'] .= '<h4>'. $title .':</h4>';
+    $variables['messages'] .= theme('status_messages', 'status');
+  }
+
+  return theme_render_template('themes/garland/maintenance-page.tpl.php', $variables);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Generate a themed update page.
+ *
+ * Note: this function is not themeable.
+ *
+ * @param $content
+ *   The page content to show.
+ * @param $show_messages
+ *   Whether to output status and error messages.
+ *   FALSE can be useful to postpone the messages to a subsequent page.
+ */
+function theme_update_page($content, $show_messages = TRUE) {
+  // Set required headers.
+  drupal_set_header('Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8');
+
+  // Assign content and show message flag.
+  $variables['content'] = $content;
+  $variables['show_messages'] = $show_messages;
+  // The maintenance preprocess function is recycled here.
+  template_preprocess_maintenance_page($variables);
+
+  return theme_render_template('themes/garland/maintenance-page.tpl.php', $variables);
+}
+
+/**
+ * The variables generated here is a mirror of template_preprocess_page().
+ * This preprocessor will run it's course when theme_maintenance_page() is
+ * invoked. It is also used in theme_install_page() and theme_update_page() to
+ * keep all the variables consistent.
+ *
+ * An alternate template file of "maintenance-page-offline.tpl.php" can be
+ * used when the database is offline to hide errors and completely replace the
+ * content.
+ *
+ * The $variables array contains the following arguments:
+ * - $content
+ * - $show_blocks
+ *
+ * @see maintenance-page.tpl.php
+ */
+function template_preprocess_maintenance_page(&$variables) {
+  // Add favicon
+  if (theme_get_setting('toggle_favicon')) {
+    drupal_set_html_head('<link rel="shortcut icon" href="'. check_url(theme_get_setting('favicon')) .'" type="image/x-icon" />');
+  }
+
+  global $theme;
+  // Retrieve the theme data to list all available regions.
+  $theme_data = _system_theme_data();
+  $regions = $theme_data[$theme]->info['regions'];
+
+  // Get all region content set with drupal_set_content().
+  foreach (array_keys($regions) as $region) {
+    // Assign region to a region variable.
+    $region_content = drupal_get_content($region);
+    isset($variables[$region]) ? $variables[$region] .= $region_content : $variables[$region] = $region_content;
+  }
+
+  // Setup layout variable.
+  $variables['layout'] = 'none';
+  if (!empty($variables['left'])) {
+    $variables['layout'] = 'left';
+  }
+  if (!empty($variables['right'])) {
+    $variables['layout'] = ($variables['layout'] == 'left') ? 'both' : 'right';
+  }
+
+  // Construct page title
+  if (drupal_get_title()) {
+    $head_title = array(strip_tags(drupal_get_title()), variable_get('site_name', 'Drupal'));
+  }
+  else {
+    $head_title = array(variable_get('site_name', 'Drupal'));
+    if (variable_get('site_slogan', '')) {
+      $head_title[] = variable_get('site_slogan', '');
+    }
+  }
+  $variables['head_title']        = implode(' | ', $head_title);
+  $variables['base_path']         = base_path();
+  $variables['breadcrumb']        = '';
+  $variables['feed_icons']        = '';
+  $variables['footer_message']    = filter_xss_admin(variable_get('site_footer', FALSE));
+  $variables['head']              = drupal_get_html_head();
+  $variables['help']              = '';
+  $variables['language']          = $GLOBALS['language'];
+  $variables['logo']              = theme_get_setting('logo');
+  $variables['messages']          = $variables['show_messages'] ? theme('status_messages') : '';
+  $variables['mission']           = '';
+  $variables['primary_links']     = array();
+  $variables['secondary_links']   = array();
+  $variables['search_box']        = '';
+  $variables['site_name']         = (theme_get_setting('toggle_name') ? variable_get('site_name', 'Drupal') : '');
+  $variables['site_slogan']       = (theme_get_setting('toggle_slogan') ? variable_get('site_slogan', '') : '');
+  $variables['css']               = drupal_add_css();
+  $variables['styles']            = drupal_get_css();
+  $variables['scripts']           = drupal_get_js();
+  $variables['tabs']              = '';
+  $variables['title']             = drupal_get_title();
+  $variables['closure']           = '';
+
+  // Compile a list of classes that are going to be applied to the body element.
+  $body_classes = array();
+  $body_classes[] = 'in-maintenance';
+  if (isset($variables['db_is_active']) && !$variables['db_is_active']) {
+    $body_classes[] = 'db-offline';
+  }
+  if ($variables['layout'] == 'both') {
+    $body_classes[] = 'two-sidebars';
+  }
+  elseif ($variables['layout'] == 'none') {
+    $body_classes[] = 'no-sidebars';
+  }
+  else {
+    $body_classes[] = 'one-sidebar sidebar-'. $variables['layout'];
+  }
+  $variables['body_classes'] = implode(' ', $body_classes);
+
+  // Dead databases will show error messages so supplying this template will
+  // allow themers to override the page and the content completely.
+  if (isset($variables['db_is_active']) && !$variables['db_is_active']) {
+    $variables['template_file'] = 'maintenance-page-offline';
+  }
+}
diff --git a/install.php b/install.php
index 1716ffed93bf1fc03eb5aa81ce6205181989f5d6..4125b29afc4c6f9c2d9527590feee99594c9ab05 100644
--- a/install.php
+++ b/install.php
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 require_once './includes/install.inc';
 
+define('MAINTENANCE_MODE', 'install');
+
 /**
  * The Drupal installation happens in a series of steps. We begin by verifying
  * that the current environment meets our minimum requirements. We then go
diff --git a/misc/maintenance.tpl.php b/misc/maintenance.tpl.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 24d554f4a634234b95a297171cab6513cfc5cc9a..0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
--- a/misc/maintenance.tpl.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-// $Id$
-?><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
-  "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
-<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
-  <head>
-    <title><?php print $head_title ?></title>
-    <?php print $head ?>
-    <?php print $styles ?>
-    <?php print $scripts ?>
-    <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="<?php print $path_to_theme ?>/style.css" />
-    <!--[if lt IE 7]>
-    <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="<?php print $path_to_theme ?>/fix-ie.css" />
-    <![endif]-->
-  </head>
-  <body class="<?php
-  $classes = array('', 'sidebar-left', 'sidebar-right', 'sidebar-both');
-  print $classes[((bool)$left) + 2 * ((bool)$right)];
-  ?>">
-
-<!-- Layout -->
-  <div id="header-region" class="clear-block"></div>
-
-    <div id="wrapper">
-    <div id="container" class="clear-block">
-
-      <div id="header">
-        <div id="logo-floater">
-          <h1><a href="<?php print check_url($base_path) ?>"><img src="<?php print check_url($logo) ?>" alt="Drupal" id="logo" /><span><?php print $site_title ?></span></a></h1>
-        </div>
-      </div> <!-- /header -->
-
-      <?php if ($left): ?>
-        <div id="sidebar-left" class="sidebar">
-          <?php print $left ?>
-        </div>
-      <?php endif; ?>
-
-      <div id="center"><div id="squeeze"><div class="right-corner"><div class="left-corner">
-          <?php if ($title): print '<h2>'. $title .'</h2>'; endif; ?>
-
-          <?php if ($messages): print $messages; endif; ?>
-          <div class="clear-block">
-            <?php print $content ?>
-          </div>
-
-          <!--partial-->
-
-      </div></div></div></div> <!-- /.left-corner, /.right-corner, /#squeeze, /#center -->
-
-      <?php if ($right): ?>
-        <div id="sidebar-right" class="sidebar">
-          <?php print $right ?>
-        </div>
-      <?php endif; ?>
-
-    </div> <!-- /container -->
-  </div>
-<!-- /layout -->
-
-  </body>
-</html>
diff --git a/modules/system/maintenance-page.tpl.php b/modules/system/maintenance-page.tpl.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..12037ab93adc78e3e7eb9afa4280d0e3b6d9680f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/system/maintenance-page.tpl.php
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+<?php
+// $Id$
+
+/**
+ * @file maintenance-page.tpl.php
+ *
+ * Theme implementation to display a single Drupal page while off-line.
+ *
+ * All the available variables are mirrored in page.tpl.php. Some may be left
+ * blank but they are provided for consistency.
+ *
+ *
+ * @see template_preprocess()
+ * @see template_preprocess_maintenance_page()
+ */
+?>
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+  "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="<?php print $language->language ?>" lang="<?php print $language->language ?>">
+
+<head>
+  <title><?php print $head_title; ?></title>
+  <?php print $head; ?>
+  <?php print $styles; ?>
+  <?php print $scripts; ?>
+  <script type="text/javascript"><?php /* Needed to avoid Flash of Unstyled Content in IE */ ?> </script>
+</head>
+<body class="<?php print $body_classes; ?>">
+  <div id="page">
+    <div id="header">
+      <div id="logo-title">
+
+        <?php if (!empty($logo)): ?>
+          <a href="<?php print $base_path; ?>" title="<?php print t('Home'); ?>" rel="home" id="logo">
+            <img src="<?php print $logo; ?>" alt="<?php print t('Home'); ?>" />
+          </a>
+        <?php endif; ?>
+
+        <div id="name-and-slogan">
+          <?php if (!empty($site_name)): ?>
+            <h1 id="site-name">
+              <a href="<?php print $base_path ?>" title="<?php print t('Home'); ?>" rel="home"><span><?php print $site_name; ?></span></a>
+            </h1>
+          <?php endif; ?>
+
+          <?php if (!empty($site_slogan)): ?>
+            <div id="site-slogan"><?php print $site_slogan; ?></div>
+          <?php endif; ?>
+        </div> <!-- /name-and-slogan -->
+      </div> <!-- /logo-title -->
+
+      <?php if (!empty($header)): ?>
+        <div id="header-region">
+          <?php print $header; ?>
+        </div>
+      <?php endif; ?>
+
+    </div> <!-- /header -->
+
+    <div id="container" class="clear-block">
+
+      <?php if (!empty($left)): ?>
+        <div id="sidebar-left" class="column sidebar">
+          <?php print $left; ?>
+        </div> <!-- /sidebar-left -->
+      <?php endif; ?>
+
+      <div id="main" class="column"><div id="main-squeeze">
+
+        <div id="content">
+          <?php if (!empty($title)): ?><h1 class="title" id="page-title"><?php print $title; ?></h1><?php endif; ?>
+          <?php if (!empty($messages)): print $messages; endif; ?>
+          <div id="content-content" class="clear-block">
+            <?php print $content; ?>
+          </div> <!-- /content-content -->
+        </div> <!-- /content -->
+
+      </div></div> <!-- /main-squeeze /main -->
+
+      <?php if (!empty($right)): ?>
+        <div id="sidebar-right" class="column sidebar">
+          <?php print $right; ?>
+        </div> <!-- /sidebar-right -->
+      <?php endif; ?>
+
+    </div> <!-- /container -->
+
+    <div id="footer-wrapper">
+      <div id="footer">
+        <?php print $footer_message; ?>
+        <?php if (!empty($footer)): print $footer; endif; ?>
+      </div> <!-- /footer -->
+    </div> <!-- /footer-wrapper -->
+
+  </div> <!-- /page -->
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/misc/maintenance.css b/modules/system/maintenance.css
similarity index 100%
rename from misc/maintenance.css
rename to modules/system/maintenance.css
diff --git a/modules/system/system.module b/modules/system/system.module
index d6997c2f1fea98c8c82a3239d91ddce27ecfea6d..ca8e54703dc5965df30c7c7bb4d178870d1f66d8 100644
--- a/modules/system/system.module
+++ b/modules/system/system.module
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ function system_help($path, $arg) {
 }
 
 function system_theme() {
-  return array_merge(drupal_common_themes(), array(
+  return array_merge(drupal_common_theme(), array(
     'system_theme_select_form' => array(
       'arguments' => array('form' => NULL),
       'file' => 'system.admin.inc',
@@ -711,111 +711,119 @@ function system_theme_default() {
 }
 
 /**
- * Collect data about all currently available themes
+ * Collect data about all currently available themes.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   Array of all available themes and their data.
  */
 function system_theme_data() {
-  // Find themes
-  $themes = drupal_system_listing('\.info$', 'themes');
+  // Scan the installation theme .info files and their engines.
+  $themes = _system_theme_data();
 
-  // Find theme engines
-  $engines = drupal_system_listing('\.engine$', 'themes/engines');
-
-  // Remove all theme engines from the system table
-  db_query("DELETE FROM {system} WHERE type = '%s'", 'theme_engine');
+  // Extract current files from database.
+  system_get_files_database($themes, 'theme');
 
-  foreach ($engines as $engine) {
-    // Insert theme engine into system table
-    drupal_get_filename('theme_engine', $engine->name, $engine->filename);
-    drupal_load('theme_engine', $engine->name);
-    db_query("INSERT INTO {system} (name, type, filename, status, throttle, bootstrap) VALUES ('%s', '%s', '%s', %d, %d, %d)", $engine->name, 'theme_engine', $engine->filename, 1, 0, 0);
-  }
+  db_query("DELETE FROM {system} WHERE type = 'theme'");
 
-  $defaults = system_theme_default();
+  foreach ($themes as $theme) {
+    if (!isset($theme->owner)) {
+      $theme->owner = '';
+    }
 
-  $sub_themes = array();
-  // Read info files for each theme
-  foreach ($themes as $key => $theme) {
-    $themes[$key]->info = drupal_parse_info_file($theme->filename) + $defaults;
+    db_query("INSERT INTO {system} (name, owner, info, type, filename, status, throttle, bootstrap) VALUES ('%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', %d, %d, %d)", $theme->name, $theme->owner, serialize($theme->info), 'theme', $theme->filename, isset($theme->status) ? $theme->status : 0, 0, 0);
+  }
 
-    // Invoke hook_system_info_alter() to give installed modules a chance to
-    // modify the data in the .info files if necessary.
-    drupal_alter('system_info', $themes[$key]->info, $themes[$key]);
+  return $themes;
+}
 
-    if (!empty($themes[$key]->info['base theme'])) {
-      $sub_themes[] = $key;
-    }
-    if (empty($themes[$key]->info['engine'])) {
-      $filename = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $themes[$key]->name .'.theme';
-      if (file_exists($filename)) {
-        $themes[$key]->owner = $filename;
-        $themes[$key]->prefix = $key;
+/**
+ * Helper function to scan and collect theme .info data and their engines.
+ */
+function _system_theme_data() {
+  static $themes_info = array();
+  
+  if (empty($theme_info)) {
+    // Find themes
+    $themes = drupal_system_listing('\.info$', 'themes');
+    // Find theme engines
+    $engines = drupal_system_listing('\.engine$', 'themes/engines');
+
+    $defaults = system_theme_default();
+
+    $sub_themes = array();
+    // Read info files for each theme
+    foreach ($themes as $key => $theme) {
+      $themes[$key]->info = drupal_parse_info_file($theme->filename) + $defaults;
+
+      // Invoke hook_system_info_alter() to give installed modules a chance to
+      // modify the data in the .info files if necessary.
+      drupal_alter('system_info', $themes[$key]->info, $themes[$key]);
+
+      if (!empty($themes[$key]->info['base theme'])) {
+        $sub_themes[] = $key;
       }
-    }
-    else {
-      $engine = $themes[$key]->info['engine'];
-      if (isset($engines[$engine])) {
-        $themes[$key]->owner = $engines[$engine]->filename;
-        $themes[$key]->prefix = $engines[$engine]->name;
-        $themes[$key]->template = TRUE;
+      if (empty($themes[$key]->info['engine'])) {
+        $filename = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $themes[$key]->name .'.theme';
+        if (file_exists($filename)) {
+          $themes[$key]->owner = $filename;
+          $themes[$key]->prefix = $key;
+        }
       }
-    }
-
-    // Give the stylesheets proper path information.
-    $pathed_stylesheets = array();
-    foreach ($themes[$key]->info['stylesheets'] as $media => $stylesheets) {
-      foreach ($stylesheets as $stylesheet) {
-        $pathed_stylesheets[$media][$stylesheet] = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $stylesheet;
+      else {
+        $engine = $themes[$key]->info['engine'];
+        if (isset($engines[$engine])) {
+          $themes[$key]->owner = $engines[$engine]->filename;
+          $themes[$key]->prefix = $engines[$engine]->name;
+          $themes[$key]->template = TRUE;
+        }
       }
-    }
-    $themes[$key]->info['stylesheets'] = $pathed_stylesheets;
 
-    // Give the scripts proper path information.
-    $scripts = array();
-    foreach ($themes[$key]->info['scripts'] as $script) {
-      $scripts[$script] = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $script;
-    }
-    $themes[$key]->info['scripts'] = $scripts;
-    // Give the screenshot proper path information.
-    if (!empty($themes[$key]->info['screenshot'])) {
-      $themes[$key]->info['screenshot'] = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $themes[$key]->info['screenshot'];
-    }
-  }
+      // Give the stylesheets proper path information.
+      $pathed_stylesheets = array();
+      foreach ($themes[$key]->info['stylesheets'] as $media => $stylesheets) {
+        foreach ($stylesheets as $stylesheet) {
+          $pathed_stylesheets[$media][$stylesheet] = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $stylesheet;
+        }
+      }
+      $themes[$key]->info['stylesheets'] = $pathed_stylesheets;
 
-  // Now that we've established all our master themes, go back and fill in
-  // data for subthemes.
-  foreach ($sub_themes as $key) {
-    $base_key = system_find_base_theme($themes, $key);
-    if (!$base_key) {
-      continue;
-    }
-    // Copy the 'owner' and 'engine' over if the top level theme uses a
-    // theme engine.
-    if (isset($themes[$base_key]->owner)) {
-      if (isset($themes[$base_key]->info['engine'])) {
-        $themes[$key]->info['engine'] = $themes[$base_key]->info['engine'];
-        $themes[$key]->owner = $themes[$base_key]->owner;
-        $themes[$key]->prefix = $themes[$base_key]->prefix;
+      // Give the scripts proper path information.
+      $scripts = array();
+      foreach ($themes[$key]->info['scripts'] as $script) {
+        $scripts[$script] = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $script;
       }
-      else {
-        $themes[$key]->prefix = $key;
+      $themes[$key]->info['scripts'] = $scripts;
+      // Give the screenshot proper path information.
+      if (!empty($themes[$key]->info['screenshot'])) {
+        $themes[$key]->info['screenshot'] = dirname($themes[$key]->filename) .'/'. $themes[$key]->info['screenshot'];
       }
     }
-  }
-
-  // Extract current files from database.
-  system_get_files_database($themes, 'theme');
 
-  db_query("DELETE FROM {system} WHERE type = 'theme'");
-
-  foreach ($themes as $theme) {
-    if (!isset($theme->owner)) {
-      $theme->owner = '';
+    // Now that we've established all our master themes, go back and fill in
+    // data for subthemes.
+    foreach ($sub_themes as $key) {
+      $base_key = system_find_base_theme($themes, $key);
+      if (!$base_key) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      // Copy the 'owner' and 'engine' over if the top level theme uses a
+      // theme engine.
+      if (isset($themes[$base_key]->owner)) {
+        if (isset($themes[$base_key]->info['engine'])) {
+          $themes[$key]->info['engine'] = $themes[$base_key]->info['engine'];
+          $themes[$key]->owner = $themes[$base_key]->owner;
+          $themes[$key]->prefix = $themes[$base_key]->prefix;
+        }
+        else {
+          $themes[$key]->prefix = $key;
+        }
+      }
     }
-
-    db_query("INSERT INTO {system} (name, owner, info, type, filename, status, throttle, bootstrap) VALUES ('%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', %d, %d, %d)", $theme->name, $theme->owner, serialize($theme->info), 'theme', $theme->filename, isset($theme->status) ? $theme->status : 0, 0, 0);
+    
+    $themes_info = $themes;
   }
 
-  return $themes;
+  return $themes_info;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/sites/default/default.settings.php b/sites/default/default.settings.php
index 4fc53c3659a456ff4dad5b209af9a2b41e9c2875..69205fb301d67a3a7cc6de82c899756dbaf16ac0 100644
--- a/sites/default/default.settings.php
+++ b/sites/default/default.settings.php
@@ -172,6 +172,15 @@
 #   'site_name' => 'My Drupal site',
 #   'theme_default' => 'minnelli',
 #   'anonymous' => 'Visitor',
+/**
+ * A custom theme can be set for the off-line page. This applies when the site
+ * is explicitly set to off-line mode through the administration page or when
+ * the database is inactive due to an error. It can be set through the
+ * 'maintenance_theme' key. The template file should also be copied into the
+ * theme. It is located inside 'modules/system/maintenance-page.tpl.php'.
+ * Note: This setting does not apply to installation and update pages.
+ */
+#   'maintenance_theme' => 'minnelli',
 /**
  * reverse_proxy accepts a boolean value.
  *
diff --git a/themes/garland/maintenance-page.tpl.php b/themes/garland/maintenance-page.tpl.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6087b354c8b7c2ed9a940c48412b0c53d2fd005e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/themes/garland/maintenance-page.tpl.php
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+<?php
+// $Id$
+
+/**
+ * @file maintenance-page.tpl.php
+ *
+ * This is an override of the default maintenance page. Used for Garland and
+ * Minnelli, this file should not be moved or modified since the installation
+ * and update pages depend on this file.
+ * 
+ * This mirrors closely page.tpl.php for Garland in order to share the same
+ * styles.
+ */
+?><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+  "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="<?php print $language->language ?>" lang="<?php print $language->language ?>">
+  <head>
+    <title><?php print $head_title ?></title>
+    <?php print $head ?>
+    <?php print $styles ?>
+    <?php print $scripts ?>
+    <!--[if lt IE 7]>
+      <?php print phptemplate_get_ie_styles(); ?>
+    <![endif]-->
+  </head>
+  <body<?php print phptemplate_body_class($left, $right); ?>>
+
+<!-- Layout -->
+  <div id="header-region" class="clear-block"><?php print $header; ?></div>
+
+    <div id="wrapper">
+    <div id="container" class="clear-block">
+
+      <div id="header">
+        <div id="logo-floater">
+        <?php
+          // Prepare header
+          $site_fields = array();
+          if ($site_name) {
+            $site_fields[] = check_plain($site_name);
+          }
+          if ($site_slogan) {
+            $site_fields[] = check_plain($site_slogan);
+          }
+          $site_title = implode(' ', $site_fields);
+          if ($site_fields) {
+            $site_fields[0] = '<span>'. $site_fields[0] .'</span>';
+          }
+          $site_html = implode(' ', $site_fields);
+
+          if ($logo || $site_title) {
+            print '<h1><a href="'. check_url($base_path) .'" title="'. $site_title .'">';
+            if ($logo) {
+              print '<img src="'. check_url($logo) .'" alt="'. $site_title .'" id="logo" />';
+            }
+            print $site_html .'</a></h1>';
+          }
+        ?>
+        </div>
+
+      </div> <!-- /header -->
+
+      <?php if ($left): ?>
+        <div id="sidebar-left" class="sidebar">
+          <?php if ($search_box): ?><div class="block block-theme"><?php print $search_box ?></div><?php endif; ?>
+          <?php print $left ?>
+        </div>
+      <?php endif; ?>
+
+      <div id="center"><div id="squeeze"><div class="right-corner"><div class="left-corner">
+          <?php if ($title): print '<h2'. ($tabs ? ' class="with-tabs"' : '') .'>'. $title .'</h2>'; endif; ?>
+          <?php print $help; ?>
+          <?php print $messages; ?>
+          <div class="clear-block">
+            <?php print $content ?>
+          </div>
+          <div id="footer"><?php print $footer_message . $footer ?></div>
+      </div></div></div></div> <!-- /.left-corner, /.right-corner, /#squeeze, /#center -->
+
+      <?php if ($right): ?>
+        <div id="sidebar-right" class="sidebar">
+          <?php print $right ?>
+        </div>
+      <?php endif; ?>
+
+    </div> <!-- /container -->
+  </div>
+<!-- /layout -->
+
+  </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/update.php b/update.php
index 890d4c0ad040facce5a9b6e459dbf7c19ad4631f..38738dee96e7eab3ae9c0a0fc0be9e9584bd2a95 100644
--- a/update.php
+++ b/update.php
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
  * be sure to open settings.php again, and change it back to its original state!
  */
 
+define('MAINTENANCE_MODE', 'update');
+
 /**
  * Add a column to a database using syntax appropriate for PostgreSQL.
  * Save result of SQL commands in $ret array.
@@ -803,7 +805,7 @@ function update_task_list($active = NULL) {
     'finished' => 'Review log',
   );
 
-  drupal_set_content('left', theme_task_list($tasks, $active));
+  drupal_set_content('left', theme('task_list', $tasks, $active));
 }
 
 // Some unavoidable errors happen because the database is not yet up-to-date.
@@ -875,5 +877,5 @@ function update_task_list($active = NULL) {
   $output = update_access_denied_page();
 }
 if (isset($output) && $output) {
-  print theme('maintenance_page', $output);
+  print theme('update_page', $output);
 }