If you follow the quick start instructions or the detailed instructions, at the last step of running the MT installation wizard you get this error:
>>>
The wizard was unable to save the Movable Type Pro configuration file.
Confirm your Movable Type Pro home directory (the directory that contains mt.cgi) is writable by your web server and then click 'Retry'.
>>>
If you make your /var/www/cgi-bin/mt directory world-writeable, that fixes the problem and you can proceed.
However, that means there's a step missing in the quick start instructions (as well as in the detailed install instructions) -- you have to make your /var/www/cgi-bin/mt directory world-writeable, or at least writeable by the webserver.
Reported on Movable Type 4.3
Interesting...technically the cgi's should be 755 but I notice there are still others who experience random issues when installing - even my buddy who tried it and discovered something that I always experienced before. When uploading the cgi-files, it's very IMPORTANT to make sure they are uploaded in ASCII mode even if a person is using the latest versions of ftp programs with auto detect. For some reason, this feature does not do the cgi's well when in that mode. Basically this is how I get a successful install every time:
1. Upload cgi-files in ASCII mode (not auto detect) make 755
2. Set your ftp back to auto detect and then do the rest
3. manually add your configuration details into the config cgi
4. Browser: /cgi-bin/mt/mt.cgi **do the full path
This should work for everyone if anything else fails. I find that there seems to be either outdated instructions on installing but there are also different methods I see online. The one I use always works for me but others there are always an issue of some sort. It's obvious there is problems as many of the issues others have are documented on the SixApart install info, like 500 server error (normally this is from the uploading of cgi files not in ASCII).
While there's nothing wrong with manually setting your transfer mode, this is at most a problem with whatever specific ftp client(s) these people are using, or its configuration.
I had trouble with the installation too, was an ftp client problem as well. Everything is good now though thanks to great info on the forum.
Reminded me when i was trying to install dos games 20-25 years ago, would have loved to have had forums at that time ;)