diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index c26db53..1fdde6a 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ APP_VERSION="5.3.0"
 DOC_ROOT="/var/www"
 INSTALL_LOC="openlog"
 APACHE_CONF_DIR="/etc/apache2/conf-available"
-BACKUP_DIR="openlog-previous-installation"
 LANDING_PAGE="lognotes.php"
 CONFIG_TABLE="configs"
 CONFIG_NAME_COLUMN="confname"
@@ -202,7 +201,9 @@ then
                 abort_exit
             else
                 # proceed with upgrade
-                mkdir -p backups
+                datestamp=$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H:%M:%S)
+                backupdir=backups/$datestamp
+                mkdir -p $backupdir
                 operation="upgraded"
                 curr_dbname=$(grep dbname $install_path/db.php | head -1 | cut -d\" -f2)
                 
@@ -216,14 +217,14 @@ then
                 echo "database = $curr_dbname" >> $mysql_opt_file
                 echo "batch" >> $mysql_opt_file
                 echo "disable-column-names" >> $mysql_opt_file
-                                
+                
                 # back up existing database
                 echo "Backing up the current database to the package directory."
-                mysqldump --defaults-extra-file=$mysql_opt_file --no-tablespaces $curr_dbname > backups/$curr_dbname-$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H:%M:%S)-backup.sql
+                mysqldump --defaults-extra-file=$mysql_opt_file --no-tablespaces $curr_dbname > $backupdir/$curr_dbname-$datestamp-backup.sql
                 
                 # back up existing installation
                 echo "Backing up current installation to the package directory."
-                cp -R $install_path backups/$install_loc_in-`date +%Y-%m-%d_%H:%M:%S`-backup
+                cp -R $install_path $backupdir/$install_loc_in-$datestamp-backup
                 
                 # delete all existing installation files except db.php
                 find $install_path/ -mindepth 1 -not -name 'db.php' -delete
@@ -267,6 +268,8 @@ then
                 echo ""
                 echo "Setting file ownership . . ."
                 chown -R $httpd_user_group $install_path
+                echo "Backups of the previous openlog files and the previous database were made"
+                echo "and are located in the $backupdir directory."
             fi
         else
             # This was a mistake. Exit now to avoid clobbering another app.