Database files in wrong location?

I’m looking for guidance in how the WordPress files relate to the database I created on the (qwknet) host server. I followed the WP installation instructions, edited the wp-config file correctly, as far as I can tell, and uploaded the files as a subdirectory into the existing site root file. In the phpMyAdmin control panel the database I created shows 0 files. Does WordPress need to be fully installed before it starts creating database files? Following directions for the install.php file sends me to an Error 404, so the installation failed.