diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/schema.php b/wp-admin/includes/schema.php
index 53f3ccadd..3057a1e39 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/schema.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/schema.php
@@ -303,7 +303,10 @@ function populate_options() {
 	'sticky_posts' => array(),
 	'widget_categories' => array(),
 	'widget_text' => array(),
-	'widget_rss' => array()
+	'widget_rss' => array(),
+	
+	// 2.8
+	'timezone_string' => ''
 	);
 
 	// Set autoload to no for these options
diff --git a/wp-settings.php b/wp-settings.php
index 74198a19a..5625c3a98 100644
--- a/wp-settings.php
+++ b/wp-settings.php
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ wp_unregister_GLOBALS();
 
 unset( $wp_filter, $cache_lastcommentmodified, $cache_lastpostdate );
 
+function wp_register_REQUEST() {
+	$_REQUEST = array_merge($_GET, $_POST);
+}
+
+wp_register_REQUEST();
+
 /**
  * The $blog_id global, which you can change in the config allows you to create a simple
  * multiple blog installation using just one WordPress and changing $blog_id around.