diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php
index d9d1f71217..f8fc1d63b1 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php
@@ -90,30 +90,32 @@ class egw extends egw_minimal
 		// check if eGW is already setup, if not redirect to setup/
 		try {
 			$this->db->connect();
-			if (!($num_config = $this->db->select(config::TABLE,'COUNT(config_name)',false,__LINE__,__FILE__)->fetchColumn()))
-			{
+			$num_config = $this->db->select(config::TABLE,'COUNT(config_name)',false,__LINE__,__FILE__)->fetchColumn();
+		}
+		catch(egw_exception_db_connection $e) {
+			// ignore exception, get handled below
+		}
+		catch(egw_exception_db_invalid_sql $e1) {
+			try {
 				$phpgw_config = $this->db->select('phpgw_config','COUNT(config_name)',false,__LINE__,__FILE__)->fetchColumn();
 			}
+			catch (egw_exception_db_invalid_sql $e2) {
+				// ignor error, get handled below
+			}
 		}
-		catch(Exception $e) {
-			//echo "<pre>Connection to DB failed (".$e->getMessage().")!\n".$e->getTraceAsString();
-		}
-		if ($e || !$num_config)
+		if (!$num_config)
 		{
-			$setup_dir = str_replace(array('home/index.php','index.php'),'setup/',$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);
-
 			// we check for the old table too, to not scare updating users ;-)
 			if ($phpgw_config)
 			{
-				throw new Exception('<center><b>Fatal Error:</b> You need to <a href="' . $setup_dir .
-					'">update eGroupWare</a> before you can continue using it.</center>',999);
+				throw new Exception('You need to update EGroupware before you can continue using it.',999);
 			}
-			else
+			if ($e)
 			{
-				throw new Exception('<center><b>Fatal Error:</b> It appears that you have not created the database tables for '
-					.'eGroupWare.  Click <a href="' . $setup_dir . '">here</a> to run setup.</center>',999);
+				throw new egw_exception_db_setup('Connection with '.$e->getMessage()."\n\n".
+					'Maybe you not created a database for EGroupware yet.',999);
 			}
-			exit;
+			throw new egw_exception_db_setup('It appears that you have not created the database tables for EGroupware.',999);
 		}
 		// Set the DB's client charset if a system-charset is set and some other values needed by egw_cache (used in config::read)
 		foreach($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['system_charset'] = $this->db->select(config::TABLE,'config_name,config_value',array(
@@ -213,7 +215,7 @@ class egw extends egw_minimal
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * wakeup2 funcontion needs to be called after unserializing the egw-object
+	 * wakeup2 function needs to be called after unserializing the egw-object
 	 *
 	 * It adapts the restored object/enviroment to the changed (current) application / page-request
 	 *
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_db.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_db.inc.php
index 1c770371be..b8b3723acd 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_db.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_db.inc.php
@@ -107,12 +107,6 @@ class egw_db
 	*/
 	var $Debug         = 0;
 
-	/**
-	* @deprecated use exceptions (try/catch block) to handle failed connections or sql errors
-	* @var string $Halt_On_Error "yes" (halt with message), "no" (ignore errors quietly), "report" (ignore errror, but spit a warning)
-	*/
-	var $Halt_On_Error = 'yes';
-
 	/**
 	* @var array $Record current record
 	*/
@@ -400,8 +394,7 @@ class egw_db
 			{
 				if (!check_load_extension($php_extension))
 				{
-					$this->halt("Necessary php database support for $this->Type (".PHP_SHLIB_PREFIX.$php_extension.'.'.PHP_SHLIB_SUFFIX.") not loaded and can't be loaded, exiting !!!");
-					return null;	// in case error-reporting = 'no'
+					throw new egw_exception_db_connection("Necessary php database support for $this->Type (".PHP_SHLIB_PREFIX.$php_extension.'.'.PHP_SHLIB_SUFFIX.") not loaded and can't be loaded, exiting !!!");
 				}
 				if (!isset($GLOBALS['egw']->ADOdb))	// use the global object to store the connection
 				{
@@ -414,8 +407,7 @@ class egw_db
 				$this->Link_ID = ADONewConnection($type);
 				if (!$this->Link_ID)
 				{
-					$this->halt("No ADOdb support for '$type' ($this->Type) !!!");
-					return null;	// in case error-reporting = 'no'
+					throw new egw_exception_db_connection("No ADOdb support for '$type' ($this->Type) !!!");
 				}
 				$connect = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['db_persistent'] ? 'PConnect' : 'Connect';
 				if (($Ok = $this->Link_ID->$connect($Host, $User, $Password)))
@@ -430,8 +422,7 @@ class egw_db
 				if (!$Ok)
 				{
 					$Host = preg_replace('/password=[^ ]+/','password=$Password',$Host);	// eg. postgres dsn contains password
-					$this->halt("ADOdb::$connect($Host, $User, \$Password, $Database) failed.");
-					return null;	// in case error-reporting = 'no'
+					throw new egw_exception_db_connection("ADOdb::$connect($Host, $User, \$Password, $Database) failed.");
 				}
 				if ($this->Debug)
 				{
@@ -671,9 +662,8 @@ class egw_db
 		}
 		if (!$this->Query_ID)
 		{
-			$this->halt("Invalid SQL: ".(is_array($Query_String)?$Query_String[0]:$Query_String).
-				($inputarr ? "<br>Parameters: '".implode("','",$inputarr)."'":''),
-				$line, $file);
+			throw new egw_exception_db_invalid_sql("Invalid SQL: ".(is_array($Query_String)?$Query_String[0]:$Query_String).
+				($inputarr ? "<br>Parameters: '".implode("','",$inputarr)."'":''));
 		}
 		return $this->Query_ID;
 	}
@@ -707,8 +697,7 @@ class egw_db
 	{
 		if (!$this->Query_ID)
 		{
-			$this->halt('next_record called with no query pending.');
-			return 0;
+			throw new egw_exception_db('next_record called with no query pending.');
 		}
 		if ($this->Row)	// first row is already fetched
 		{
@@ -763,10 +752,7 @@ class egw_db
 	{
 		if (!$this->Query_ID  || !$this->Query_ID->Move($this->Row = $pos))
 		{
-			$this->halt("seek($pos) failed: resultset has " . $this->num_rows() . " rows");
-			$this->Query_ID->Move( $this->num_rows() );
-			$this->Row = $this->num_rows();
-			return False;
+			throw new egw_exception_db("seek($pos) failed: resultset has " . $this->num_rows() . " rows");
 		}
 		return True;
 	}
@@ -973,65 +959,6 @@ class egw_db
 		return $result;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	* Error handler
-	*
-	* @param string $msg error message
-	* @param int $line line of calling method/function (optional)
-	* @param string $file file of calling method/function (optional)
-	*/
-	function halt($msg, $line = '', $file = '')
-	{
-		if ($this->Link_ID)		// only if we have a link, else infinite loop
-		{
-			$this->Error = $this->Link_ID->ErrorMsg();	// need to be BEFORE unlock,
-			$this->Errno = $this->Link_ID->ErrorNo();	// else we get its error or none
-
-			$this->unlock();	/* Just in case there is a table currently locked */
-		}
-		if ($this->Halt_On_Error == "no")
-		{
-			return;
-		}
-		if ($this->Halt_On_Error == 'yes')
-		{
-			throw new egw_exception_db($msg.($this->Error?":\n".$this->Error:''),$this->Errno);
-		}
-		$this->haltmsg($msg);
-
-		if ($file)
-		{
-			printf("<br /><b>File:</b> %s",$file);
-		}
-		if ($line)
-		{
-			printf("<br /><b>Line:</b> %s",$line);
-		}
-		printf("<br /><b>Function:</b> %s</p>\n",function_backtrace(2));
-
-		if ($this->Halt_On_Error != "report")
-		{
-			echo "<p><b>Session halted.</b></p>";
-			if (is_object($GLOBALS['egw']->common))
-			{
-				$GLOBALS['egw']->common->egw_exit(True);
-			}
-			else	// happens eg. in setup
-			{
-				exit();
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	function haltmsg($msg)
-	{
-		printf("<p><b>Database error:</b> %s<br>\n", $msg);
-		if (($this->Errno || $this->Error) && $this->Error != "()")
-		{
-			printf("<b>$this->Type Error</b>: %s (%s)<br>\n",$this->Errno,$this->Error);
-		}
-	}
-
 	/**
 	* Get description of a table
 	*
@@ -1061,7 +988,6 @@ class egw_db
 			if($column->primary_key) $flags .= "primary_key ";
 			if($column->binary) $flags .= "binary ";
 
-//				_debug_array($column);
 			$metadata[$i] = array(
 				'table' => $table,
 				'name'  => $column->name,
@@ -1523,8 +1449,7 @@ class egw_db
 
 				if (!is_int($key) && is_array($column_definitions) && !isset($column_definitions[$key]))
 				{
-					// give a warning that we have no column-type
-					$this->halt("db::column_data_implode('$glue',".print_r($array,True).",'$use_key',".print_r($only,True).",<pre>".print_r($column_definitions,True)."</pre><b>nothing known about column '$key'!</b>");
+					throw new egw_exception_db_invalid_sql("db::column_data_implode('$glue',".print_r($array,True).",'$use_key',".print_r($only,True).",<pre>".print_r($column_definitions,True)."</pre><b>nothing known about column '$key'!</b>");
 				}
 				$column_type = is_array($column_definitions) ? @$column_definitions[$key]['type'] : False;
 				$not_null = is_array($column_definitions) && isset($column_definitions[$key]['nullable']) ? !$column_definitions[$key]['nullable'] : false;
@@ -1912,7 +1837,7 @@ class egw_db
 			{
 				$ret = $this->Link_ID->UpdateBlob($table,$col,$val,$where,$table_def['fd'][$col]['type'] == 'blob' ? 'BLOB' : 'CLOB');
 				if ($this->Debug) echo "<p>adodb::UpdateBlob('$table','$col','$val','$where') = '$ret'</p>\n";
-				if (!$ret) $this->halt("Error in UpdateBlob($table,$col,\$val,$where)",$line,$file);
+				if (!$ret) throw new egw_exception_db_invalid_sql("Error in UpdateBlob($table,$col,\$val,$where)",$line,$file);
 			}
 		}
 		return $ret;
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_exception.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_exception.inc.php
index 18ccf8d0d4..8f156b9add 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_exception.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_exception.inc.php
@@ -138,8 +138,7 @@ class egw_exception_wrong_parameter extends egw_exception_assertion_failed { }
 class egw_exception_wrong_userinput extends egw_exception_assertion_failed { }
 
 /**
- * Exceptions thrown by the egw_db class
- *
+ * Exception thrown by the egw_db class for everything not covered by extended classed below
  */
 class egw_exception_db extends egw_exception
 {
@@ -159,6 +158,25 @@ class egw_exception_db extends egw_exception
 
 /**
  * Storing the row violates a unique key constrain
- *
  */
-class egw_exception_db_not_unique extends egw_exception_db { }
\ No newline at end of file
+class egw_exception_db_not_unique extends egw_exception_db { }
+
+/**
+ *  Can not connect to database: eg. database down, wrong host, name or credentials
+ */
+class egw_exception_db_connection extends egw_exception_db { }
+
+/**
+ * PHP lackst support for configured database type
+ */
+class egw_exception_db_support extends egw_exception_db { }
+
+/**
+ * Classic invalid SQL error
+ */
+class egw_exception_db_invalid_sql extends egw_exception_db { }
+
+/**
+ * EGroupware not (fully) installed, visit setup
+ */
+class egw_exception_db_setup extends egw_exception_db { }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/common_functions.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/common_functions.inc.php
index 6cbe1657b0..efc8926bc9 100755
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/common_functions.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/common_functions.inc.php
@@ -1589,7 +1589,12 @@ function egw_exception_handler(Exception $e)
 			$message .= html::htmlspecialchars($e->getTraceAsString());
 		}
 		$message .= "</pre>\n";
-		if (is_object($GLOBALS['egw']) && isset($GLOBALS['egw']->session) && method_exists($GLOBALS['egw'],'link'))
+		if (is_a($e, 'egw_exception_db_setup'))
+		{
+			$setup_dir = str_replace(array('home/index.php','index.php'),'setup/',$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);
+			$message .= '<a href="'.$setup_dir.'">Run setup to install or configure EGroupware.</a>';
+		}
+		elseif (is_object($GLOBALS['egw']) && isset($GLOBALS['egw']->session) && method_exists($GLOBALS['egw'],'link'))
 		{
 			$message .= '<p><a href="'.$GLOBALS['egw']->link('/index.php').'">'.try_lang('Click here to resume your eGroupWare Session.').'</a></p>';
 		}
diff --git a/setup/inc/class.setup.inc.php b/setup/inc/class.setup.inc.php
index f0a5d39216..1274837179 100644
--- a/setup/inc/class.setup.inc.php
+++ b/setup/inc/class.setup.inc.php
@@ -122,34 +122,36 @@ class setup
 
 		if ($connect_and_setcharset)
 		{
-			$this->db->Halt_On_Error = 'no';	// table might not be created at that stage
+			try {
+				$this->set_table_names();		// sets/checks config- and applications-table-name
 
-			$this->set_table_names();		// sets/checks config- and applications-table-name
-
-			// Set the DB's client charset if a system-charset is set
-			$this->db->select($this->config_table,'config_value',array(
-				'config_app'  => 'phpgwapi',
-				'config_name' => 'system_charset',
-			),__LINE__,__FILE__);
-			if ($this->db->next_record() && $this->db->f(0))
-			{
-				$this->system_charset = $this->db->f(0);
-				$this->db_charset_was = $this->db->Link_ID->GetCharSet();	// needed for the update
-
-				// we can NOT set the DB charset for mysql, if the api version < 1.0.1.019, as it would mess up the DB content!!!
-				if (substr($this->db->Type,0,5) == 'mysql')	// we need to check the api version
+				// Set the DB's client charset if a system-charset is set
+				$this->db->select($this->config_table,'config_value',array(
+					'config_app'  => 'phpgwapi',
+					'config_name' => 'system_charset',
+				),__LINE__,__FILE__);
+				if ($this->db->next_record() && $this->db->f(0))
 				{
-					$this->db->select($this->applications_table,'app_version',array(
-						'app_name'  => 'phpgwapi',
-					),__LINE__,__FILE__);
-					$api_version = $this->db->next_record() ? $this->db->f(0) : false;
-				}
-				if (!$api_version || !$this->alessthanb($api_version,'1.0.1.019'))
-				{
-					$this->db->Link_ID->SetCharSet($this->system_charset);
+					$this->system_charset = $this->db->f(0);
+					$this->db_charset_was = $this->db->Link_ID->GetCharSet();	// needed for the update
+
+					// we can NOT set the DB charset for mysql, if the api version < 1.0.1.019, as it would mess up the DB content!!!
+					if (substr($this->db->Type,0,5) == 'mysql')	// we need to check the api version
+					{
+						$this->db->select($this->applications_table,'app_version',array(
+							'app_name'  => 'phpgwapi',
+						),__LINE__,__FILE__);
+						$api_version = $this->db->next_record() ? $this->db->f(0) : false;
+					}
+					if (!$api_version || !$this->alessthanb($api_version,'1.0.1.019'))
+					{
+						$this->db->Link_ID->SetCharSet($this->system_charset);
+					}
 				}
 			}
-			$this->db->Halt_On_Error = 'yes';	// setting the default again
+			catch (egw_exception_db $e) {
+				// table might not be created at that stage
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -651,7 +653,7 @@ class setup
 		// Remove categories
 		$this->db->delete(categories::TABLE, array('cat_appname'=>$appname),__LINE__,__FILE__);
 		categories::invalidate_cache($appname);
-		
+
 		// Remove config
 		$this->db->delete(config::TABLE, array('config_app'=>$appname),__LINE__,__FILE__);
 		//echo 'DELETING application: ' . $appname;
diff --git a/setup/inc/class.setup_detection.inc.php b/setup/inc/class.setup_detection.inc.php
index 0fa61a3e19..2dc8a805c7 100755
--- a/setup/inc/class.setup_detection.inc.php
+++ b/setup/inc/class.setup_detection.inc.php
@@ -52,62 +52,65 @@ class setup_detection
 	function get_db_versions($setup_info=null)
 	{
 		$tname = Array();
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Halt_On_Error = 'no';
+		try {	// catch DB errors
+			$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->set_table_names();
 
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->set_table_names();
-
-		if($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->table_exist(array($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->applications_table),true))
-		{
-			/* one of these tables exists. checking for post/pre beta version */
-			if($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->applications_table != 'applications')
+			if($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->table_exist(array($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->applications_table),true))
 			{
-				$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->select($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->applications_table,'*',false,__LINE__,__FILE__);
-				while(@$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
+				/* one of these tables exists. checking for post/pre beta version */
+				if($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->applications_table != 'applications')
 				{
-					$app = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_name');
-					if (!isset($setup_info[$app]))	// app source no longer there
+					$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->select($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->applications_table,'*',false,__LINE__,__FILE__);
+					while(@$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
 					{
-						$setup_info[$app] = array(
-							'name' => $app,
-							'tables' => $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_tables'),
-							'version' => 'deleted',
-						);
+						$app = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_name');
+						if (!isset($setup_info[$app]))	// app source no longer there
+						{
+							$setup_info[$app] = array(
+								'name' => $app,
+								'tables' => $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_tables'),
+								'version' => 'deleted',
+							);
+						}
+						$setup_info[$app]['currentver'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_version');
+						$setup_info[$app]['enabled'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_enabled');
 					}
-					$setup_info[$app]['currentver'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_version');
-					$setup_info[$app]['enabled'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_enabled');
-				}
-				/* This is to catch old setup installs that did not have phpgwapi listed as an app */
-				$tmp = @$setup_info['phpgwapi']['version']; /* save the file version */
-				if(!@$setup_info['phpgwapi']['currentver'])
-				{
-					$setup_info['phpgwapi']['currentver'] = $setup_info['admin']['currentver'];
-					$setup_info['phpgwapi']['version'] = $setup_info['admin']['currentver'];
-					$setup_info['phpgwapi']['enabled'] = $setup_info['admin']['enabled'];
-					// _debug_array($setup_info['phpgwapi']);exit;
-					// There seems to be a problem here.  If ['phpgwapi']['currentver'] is set,
-					// The GLOBALS never gets set.
-					$GLOBALS['setup_info'] = $setup_info;
-					$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->register_app('phpgwapi');
+					/* This is to catch old setup installs that did not have phpgwapi listed as an app */
+					$tmp = @$setup_info['phpgwapi']['version']; /* save the file version */
+					if(!@$setup_info['phpgwapi']['currentver'])
+					{
+						$setup_info['phpgwapi']['currentver'] = $setup_info['admin']['currentver'];
+						$setup_info['phpgwapi']['version'] = $setup_info['admin']['currentver'];
+						$setup_info['phpgwapi']['enabled'] = $setup_info['admin']['enabled'];
+						// _debug_array($setup_info['phpgwapi']);exit;
+						// There seems to be a problem here.  If ['phpgwapi']['currentver'] is set,
+						// The GLOBALS never gets set.
+						$GLOBALS['setup_info'] = $setup_info;
+						$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->register_app('phpgwapi');
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						$GLOBALS['setup_info'] = $setup_info;
+					}
+					$setup_info['phpgwapi']['version'] = $tmp; /* restore the file version */
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					$GLOBALS['setup_info'] = $setup_info;
-				}
-				$setup_info['phpgwapi']['version'] = $tmp; /* restore the file version */
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query('select * from applications');
-				while(@$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
-				{
-					if($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_name') == 'admin')
+					$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query('select * from applications');
+					while(@$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
 					{
-						$setup_info['phpgwapi']['currentver'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_version');
+						if($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_name') == 'admin')
+						{
+							$setup_info['phpgwapi']['currentver'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_version');
+						}
+						$setup_info[$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_name')]['currentver'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_version');
 					}
-					$setup_info[$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_name')]['currentver'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('app_version');
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		catch (egw_exception_db $e) {
+			// ignore db errors
+		}
 		// _debug_array($setup_info);
 		return $setup_info;
 	}
@@ -286,15 +289,17 @@ class setup_detection
 	{
 		$setup_info = $setup_info ? $setup_info : $GLOBALS['setup_info'];
 
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Halt_On_Error = 'no';
-		// _debug_array($setup_info);
-
-		if (!$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Link_ID)
-		{
-			$old = error_reporting();
-			error_reporting($old & ~E_WARNING);	// no warnings
-			$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->connect();
-			error_reporting($old);
+		try {	// catch DB errors
+			if (!$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Link_ID)
+			{
+				$old = error_reporting();
+				error_reporting($old & ~E_WARNING);	// no warnings
+				$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->connect();
+				error_reporting($old);
+			}
+		}
+		catch(egw_exception_db $e) {
+			// ignore error
 		}
 		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->set_table_names();
 
@@ -324,15 +329,13 @@ class setup_detection
 		else
 		{
 			/* no tables, so checking if we can create them */
-			$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query('CREATE TABLE egw_testrights ( testfield varchar(5) NOT NULL )');
-			if(!$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Errno)
-			{
+			try {
+				$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query('CREATE TABLE egw_testrights ( testfield varchar(5) NOT NULL )');
 				$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query('DROP TABLE egw_testrights');
 				$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['header_msg'] = 'Stage 3 (Install Applications)';
 				return 3;
 			}
-			else
-			{
+			catch (egw_exception_db $e) {
 				$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['header_msg'] = 'Stage 1 (Create Database)';
 				return 1;
 			}
@@ -346,18 +349,21 @@ class setup_detection
 	 */
 	function check_config()
 	{
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Halt_On_Error = 'no';
 		if(@$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['stage']['db'] != 10)
 		{
 			return '';
 		}
 
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->select($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->config_table,'config_name,config_value',array('config_app' => 'phpgwapi'),__LINE__,__FILE__);
-		while($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
-		{
-			$config[$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f(0)] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f(1);
+		try {	// catch db errors
+			$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->select($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->config_table,'config_name,config_value',array('config_app' => 'phpgwapi'),__LINE__,__FILE__);
+			while($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
+			{
+				$config[$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f(0)] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f(1);
+			}
+		}
+		catch (egw_exception_db $e) {
+			// ignore db errors
 		}
-
 		$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['header_msg'] = 'Stage 2 (Needs Configuration)';
 		if(!count($config))
 		{
@@ -426,7 +432,6 @@ class setup_detection
 
 	function check_lang($check = True)
 	{
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Halt_On_Error = 'no';
 		if($check && $GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['stage']['db'] != 10)
 		{
 			return '';
@@ -435,30 +440,32 @@ class setup_detection
 		{
 			$GLOBALS['setup_info'] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->detection->get_db_versions($GLOBALS['setup_info']);
 		}
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query($q = "SELECT DISTINCT lang FROM {$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->lang_table}",__LINE__,__FILE__);
-		if($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->num_rows() == 0)
+		try {
+			$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query($q = "SELECT DISTINCT lang FROM {$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->lang_table}",__LINE__,__FILE__);
+		}
+		catch (egw_exception_db $e) {
+			// ignore db error
+		}
+		if($e || $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->num_rows() == 0)
 		{
 			$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['header_msg'] = 'Stage 3 (No languages installed)';
 			return 1;
 		}
-		else
+		while(@$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
 		{
-			while(@$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
-			{
-				$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['installed_langs'][$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('lang')] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('lang');
-			}
-			foreach($GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['installed_langs'] as $key => $value)
-			{
-				$sql = "SELECT lang_name FROM {$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->languages_table} WHERE lang_id = '".$value."'";
-				$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query($sql);
-				if ($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
-				{
-					$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['installed_langs'][$value] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('lang_name');
-				}
-			}
-			$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['header_msg'] = 'Stage 3 (Completed)';
-			return 10;
+			$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['installed_langs'][$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('lang')] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('lang');
 		}
+		foreach($GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['installed_langs'] as $key => $value)
+		{
+			$sql = "SELECT lang_name FROM {$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->languages_table} WHERE lang_id = '".$value."'";
+			$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->query($sql);
+			if ($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->next_record())
+			{
+				$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['installed_langs'][$value] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->f('lang_name');
+			}
+		}
+		$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['header_msg'] = 'Stage 3 (Completed)';
+		return 10;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -475,12 +482,16 @@ class setup_detection
 		{
 			/* Make a copy, else we send some callers into an infinite loop */
 			$copy = $setup_info;
-			$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Halt_On_Error = 'no';
-			$table_names = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->table_names();
 			$tables = Array();
-			foreach($table_names as $key => $val)
-			{
-				$tables[] = $val['table_name'];
+			try {
+				$table_names = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->table_names();
+				foreach($table_names as $key => $val)
+				{
+					$tables[] = $val['table_name'];
+				}
+			}
+			catch (egw_exception_db $e) {
+				// ignore db error
 			}
 			foreach($copy[$appname]['tables'] as $key => $val)
 			{
diff --git a/setup/index.php b/setup/index.php
index 34ee9f0bc7..ab348775f9 100644
--- a/setup/index.php
+++ b/setup/index.php
@@ -284,91 +284,91 @@ switch($GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['stage']['db'])
 		$db_filled_block = $setup_tpl->get_var('V_db_stage_6_pre');
 		$setup_tpl->set_var('tableshave',lang('If you did not receive any errors, your applications have been'));
 
-		// FIXME : CAPTURE THIS OUTPUT
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Halt_On_Error = 'report';
-
-		switch ($GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['currentver']['phpgwapi'])
-		{
-			case 'dbcreate':
-				$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->create_database($_POST['db_root'], $_POST['db_pass'], 'utf8',	// create all new db's with utf8
-					!preg_match('/^[0-9.a-z_]+$/i', $_POST['db_grant_host']) ? 'localhost' : $_POST['db_grant_host']);
-				break;
-			case 'drop':
-				$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->detection->get_versions($setup_info);
-				$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->process->droptables($setup_info);
-				break;
-			case 'new':
-				// use uploaded backup, instead installing from scratch
-				if ($_POST['upload'])
-				{
-					$db_backup = new db_backup();
-					if (is_array($_FILES['uploaded']) && !$_FILES['uploaded']['error'] &&
-						is_uploaded_file($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name']))
+		try {	// catch DB errors to report them
+			switch ($GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['currentver']['phpgwapi'])
+			{
+				case 'dbcreate':
+					$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->create_database($_POST['db_root'], $_POST['db_pass'], 'utf8',	// create all new db's with utf8
+						!preg_match('/^[0-9.a-z_]+$/i', $_POST['db_grant_host']) ? 'localhost' : $_POST['db_grant_host']);
+					break;
+				case 'drop':
+					$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->detection->get_versions($setup_info);
+					$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->process->droptables($setup_info);
+					break;
+				case 'new':
+					// use uploaded backup, instead installing from scratch
+					if ($_POST['upload'])
 					{
-						if (preg_match('/\.(bz2|gz)$/i',$_FILES['uploaded']['name'],$matches))
+						$db_backup = new db_backup();
+						if (is_array($_FILES['uploaded']) && !$_FILES['uploaded']['error'] &&
+							is_uploaded_file($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name']))
 						{
-							$ext = '.'.$matches[1];
-							move_uploaded_file($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'],$_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'].$ext);
-							$_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'] .= $ext;
+							if (preg_match('/\.(bz2|gz)$/i',$_FILES['uploaded']['name'],$matches))
+							{
+								$ext = '.'.$matches[1];
+								move_uploaded_file($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'],$_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'].$ext);
+								$_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'] .= $ext;
+							}
+							if (is_resource($f = $db_backup->fopen_backup($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'],true)))
+							{
+								echo '<p align="center">'.lang('restore started, this might take a few minutes ...')."</p>\n".str_repeat(' ',4096);
+								$db_backup->restore($f,$_POST['convert_charset'],$_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'],false);
+								fclose($f);
+								echo '<p align="center">'.lang('restore finished')."</p>\n";
+								unlink($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name']);
+							}
+							else	// backup failed ==> dont start the upgrade
+							{
+								$setup_tpl->set_var('submsg',lang('Restore failed'));
+								$setup_tpl->set_var('tableshave','<b>'.$f.'</b>');
+								$setup_tpl->set_var('subaction','');
+							}
 						}
-						if (is_resource($f = $db_backup->fopen_backup($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'],true)))
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->detection->upgrade_exclude($setup_info);
+						// Set the DB's client charset if a system-charset is set
+						if ($_REQUEST['system_charset'])
 						{
-							echo '<p align="center">'.lang('restore started, this might take a few minutes ...')."</p>\n".str_repeat(' ',4096);
-							$db_backup->restore($f,$_POST['convert_charset'],$_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name'],false);
+							$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->system_charset = $_REQUEST['system_charset'];
+							$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Link_ID->SetCharSet($_REQUEST['system_charset']);
+						}
+						$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->process->pass($setup_info,'new',$_REQUEST['debug'],True);
+						$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['currentver']['phpgwapi'] = 'oldversion';
+					}
+					break;
+				case 'oldversion':
+					// create a backup, before upgrading the tables
+					if ($_POST['backup'])
+					{
+						$db_backup =& CreateObject('phpgwapi.db_backup');
+						if (is_resource($f = $db_backup->fopen_backup()))
+						{
+							echo '<p align="center">'.lang('backup started, this might take a few minutes ...')."</p>\n".str_repeat(' ',4096);
+							$db_backup->backup($f);
 							fclose($f);
-							echo '<p align="center">'.lang('restore finished')."</p>\n";
-							unlink($_FILES['uploaded']['tmp_name']);
+							echo '<p align="center">'.lang('backup finished')."</p>\n";
 						}
 						else	// backup failed ==> dont start the upgrade
 						{
-							$setup_tpl->set_var('submsg',lang('Restore failed'));
+							$setup_tpl->set_var('submsg',lang('Backup failed'));
 							$setup_tpl->set_var('tableshave','<b>'.$f.'</b>');
 							$setup_tpl->set_var('subaction','');
 						}
 					}
-				}
-				else
-				{
-					$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->detection->upgrade_exclude($setup_info);
-					// Set the DB's client charset if a system-charset is set
-					if ($_REQUEST['system_charset'])
+					if (!@$_POST['backup'] || !is_string($f))
 					{
-						$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->system_charset = $_REQUEST['system_charset'];
-						$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Link_ID->SetCharSet($_REQUEST['system_charset']);
+						$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->process->pass($setup_info,'upgrade',$_REQUEST['debug']);
+						$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['currentver']['phpgwapi'] = 'oldversion';
 					}
-					$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->process->pass($setup_info,'new',$_REQUEST['debug'],True);
-					$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['currentver']['phpgwapi'] = 'oldversion';
-				}
-				break;
-			case 'oldversion':
-				// create a backup, before upgrading the tables
-				if ($_POST['backup'])
-				{
-					$db_backup =& CreateObject('phpgwapi.db_backup');
-					if (is_resource($f = $db_backup->fopen_backup()))
-					{
-						echo '<p align="center">'.lang('backup started, this might take a few minutes ...')."</p>\n".str_repeat(' ',4096);
-						$db_backup->backup($f);
-						fclose($f);
-						echo '<p align="center">'.lang('backup finished')."</p>\n";
-					}
-					else	// backup failed ==> dont start the upgrade
-					{
-						$setup_tpl->set_var('submsg',lang('Backup failed'));
-						$setup_tpl->set_var('tableshave','<b>'.$f.'</b>');
-						$setup_tpl->set_var('subaction','');
-					}
-				}
-				if (!@$_POST['backup'] || !is_string($f))
-				{
-					$setup_info = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->process->pass($setup_info,'upgrade',$_REQUEST['debug']);
-					$GLOBALS['egw_info']['setup']['currentver']['phpgwapi'] = 'oldversion';
-				}
-				break;
+					break;
+			}
+		}
+		catch (egw_exception_db $e)
+		{
+			echo "<pre>".$e->getMessage()."</pre>\n";
 		}
-
-		$GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->Halt_On_Error = 'no';
-
 		$setup_tpl->set_var('re-check_my_installation',lang('Re-Check My Installation'));
 		$setup_tpl->set_var('system_charset',$GLOBALS['egw']->system_charset);
 		$setup_tpl->parse('V_db_stage_6_post','B_db_stage_6_post');