General new site setup issues

[David Morgan]

I have been attempting various 'fixes' for the past few weeks and have reinstalled the entire server more times than I care to count.  I have read so many conflicting recommendations and guides that I don't know what the truth looks like anymore.

I finally figured out the correct location to put my custom theme so that the proper icon shows up in the header - and I figured out how to add assets so the course selector has the custom png file.  But beyond that, I am stuck.

I am trying to replace the gray banner and the text of the banner in the header of the index (when not logged in).  Specifically, the "Welcome to the Open edX platform!".  I did a grep search of the entire directory and that text appeared in two index.html files (one in edx-platform/lms/templates/ and the other in edx-platform/lms/static/templates) and then in 12 different django messages.  I attempted to copy over the index.html file from both locations and nest it in my custom theme...then change the text....but that didn't work.  And I have no clue where to start with the django messages.

I have attempted to install the Stanford Theme numerous times, but the entire server crashes every time upon trying to rebuild.

I have attempted the bitnami install....cloning from github....creating a bucket within a VM with the automated scripts...and simply can't get this to work.

I really REALLY like the Open edX platform and want to stay with it....but I have a timeline and will have to move over to the open source version of Canvas if I can't get this working soon....

So -- amongst the insanity of all the conflicting information out there....how do I simply change that welcome banner text?  I have search Google and this group and nothing....any solutions that come close are years old and obviously no longer applicable.

Thanks in advance for an assistance.....