Hmm, I’ve never had a problem installing from a decompressed set of install files provided the dB is set up correctly.
If you’re reusing a dB, make sure all the tables have been dropped.
If you’d rather have more GUI control over your server, I think AWS Lightsail still has a 3 domain license version (no additional charge) of Plesk that’s real easy to administer. If you’re using AWS Route 53 for your DNS, there’s a connector that will sync your Plesk DNS with Route 53 nameservers. I’ve had one running a production site for a couple years, no problems. You can also choose which versions of PHP and webserver you want to use.
This is what I do for test sites (another AWS Lightsail server running CWP):
- Upload the install file to the server
- Decompress
- Move or copy the decompressed set of files out of the decompressed folder and place them in to the root of domain’s folder
- Create a dB and user
- Browse to the domain or IP
- Fill in the form prompts
- That should be it
- Works every time for me.