I think than you must create the database manualy and load kernel_schema.sql and clean_data.sql from kernel/sql/mysql or kernel/sql/postgresql (depending on your database type).
I've done a manual installation into the root of my domain, and run kernel_schema.sql and cleandata.sql for MySQL. I can see that the database is populated.
I've uploaded settings/override/site.ini.append.php and I'm sure that the database settings for account/passwd are correct.
When I go to my front page I see the login dialogure boxes but above them it says....
kernel (50) No database connection could be made, the system might not behave properly.
I've tried to login regardless with admin/publish (is that the default passwd?) but Iget "Could not login"