I have a correctly functioning 4.7 installation which was installed clean, i.e. not an upgrade. I am now trying to upgrade to version 4.8.2. But each time I access the site it starts a new installation, fails, and all my sites disappear.  Can anyone tell me where I am going wrong.  Below are a list of the steps I am performing.

1. Copy All files to a backup.
2. Backup DNN Database.
3. Save a copy of the web.config file to another folder.
4. Download the 4.8.2 Upgrade files.
5. Unzip the downloaded upgrade files and copy over the existing files.
6. Rename release.config to web.config.
7. Set the folowing settings in the web.config.
    a. Import Database connection strings from old web.config (2 places)
    b. Import the Machine Key from old web.config.
8. Open the webpage of the http://www.site.com/dnn, at which point the system starts the new instalation and not an upgrade.

I have also tried using the instal type of upgrade, it does the same.  I am obviously missing a simple but important step, but I cannot find what it is.  I have now tried the upgrade three times, and no luck.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.