parse error

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected ‘.’ in /homepages/25/d230499117/htdocs/madhaus/wp-includes/user.php on line 244

I get the above error when loading the page

This is a fresh upload. I want the wordpress to run out of a subfolder.

I’ve loaded it multiple times and got it to work if the folder was named “wordpress”. If I renamed in on my side/updated the links and the upload it to my host I get the Parse error. Should I not be putting the whole folder up? The FAQ says it’s possible to do what I want so I know it’s me doing something wrong.

I pulled down the user.php page and went to line 244, I cannot find ‘.’ on that line. I did a search for it and it was not found that way either.

Thank you for your help and time.