I wasn't using an "upgrade" site -- just replacing my old one (which was completely deleted).

In any case, that doesn't make sense to me because even when there were no "configure.php" files on my server, my store still showed an error message ("warning: I am able to write to the files includes/configure.php" ... "this is a security risk" ... etc.). Changed the permissions on the "dist-configure.php" files, error persisted.

So I tried to (as you suggested) rename the "dist-configure.php" files to just "configure.php" and give them read-only permissions. I then went to my store, and it did not seem to exist -- instead, it defaulted to the installer folder (which I had renamed). So I entered the URL of the installer (with my re-named folder), and installed again. And again. And again.

This is weird. But eventually (for no reason that I can discern), after the 3rd re-intall, suddenly the "configure.php" files existed again. (Though the "dist-configure.php" files are ALSO still there -- which I find bewildering, given your last post.)

So:

1.) when you "install" ZenCart, and it asks you for your database info, does that info get written to a file ("configure.php" and/or "dist-configure.php"), or does it not? If not, why not?

2.) when you're doing a fresh install -- not an upgrade (though I fail to see much difference, frankly) -- why would the "configure.php" files not be installed?

3.) if it is this "configure.php" file that is the crux of the shopping cart -- telling the cart where the database is and how to connect to it -- why aren't instructions for setting up / editing this file in the FIRST LINE of the first page of the FAQ / documentation?

It seems to me ZenCart so frequently puts the cart miles before the horse. (And I'm still putting my boots on ...)

Probably I am still missing something. Maybe someone can clarify.