diff --git a/config.inc.php b/config.inc.php
index d97731a32..28fd76280 100644
--- a/config.inc.php
+++ b/config.inc.php
@@ -9,22 +9,30 @@ function __construct(){
 
 		//Get parameter value pairs from fac_Config
 		$sql='select Parameter, Value, DefaultVal from fac_Config';
-                $sth=$dbh->prepare($sql);
-                $sth->execute();
-		while ($row = $sth->fetch()) {
-			if ($row['Parameter']== 'ClassList'){
-				$List = explode(', ', $row['Value']);
-				$this->ParameterArray[$row['Parameter']]=$List;
-				$this->defaults[$row['Parameter']]=$row['DefaultVal'];
-			}else{
-				// this allows us to support quotes in paths for whatever reason
-				if(preg_match('/.*path$|PDFLogoFile/',$row['Parameter'])){
-					$this->ParameterArray[$row['Parameter']]=html_entity_decode($row['Value'],ENT_QUOTES);
+		$sth=$dbh->prepare($sql);
+		// this gets called via db.inc on a new install and will throw an exception
+		// this prevents that and allows the install to continue and call this again
+		// later and populate correctly
+		try {
+			$sth->execute();
+			while ($row = $sth->fetch()) {
+				if ($row['Parameter']== 'ClassList'){
+					$List = explode(', ', $row['Value']);
+					$this->ParameterArray[$row['Parameter']]=$List;
+					$this->defaults[$row['Parameter']]=$row['DefaultVal'];
 				}else{
-					$this->ParameterArray[$row['Parameter']]=$row['Value'];
+					// this allows us to support quotes in paths for whatever reason
+					if(preg_match('/.*path$|PDFLogoFile/',$row['Parameter'])){
+						$this->ParameterArray[$row['Parameter']]=html_entity_decode($row['Value'],ENT_QUOTES);
+					}else{
+						$this->ParameterArray[$row['Parameter']]=$row['Value'];
+					}
+					$this->defaults[$row['Parameter']]=$row['DefaultVal'];
 				}
-				$this->defaults[$row['Parameter']]=$row['DefaultVal'];
 			}
+		} catch (PDOException $e) {
+			$info=$e->getMessage();
+			error_log("UpdateConfig::PDO Error: {$info} SQL=$sql");
 		}
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/rightscheck.php b/rightscheck.php
index 3ac7c5d74..7c53653f1 100644
--- a/rightscheck.php
+++ b/rightscheck.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 $grpid=exec('id -g');
 
 // The directories we want writable for uploads
-$wantedpaths=array('drawings', 'pictures');
+$wantedpaths=array('drawings', 'pictures','assets/drawings','assets/pictures');
 
 print "<table>
 	<tr>
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ function printrow($file,&$wantedpaths,$userid,$grpid){
 }
 
 # Add in extra paths here that aren't part of the root loop.
-printrow('vendor'.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'mpdf'.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'mpdf'.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'ttfontdata',$wantedpaths,$userid,$grpid);
+printrow('assets'.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'drawings',$wantedpaths,$userid,$grpid);
+printrow('assets'.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.'pictures',$wantedpaths,$userid,$grpid);
 
 # Handle paths that may or may not be set in the configuration screen for docker
 # clowns.