How to Install Acquia Dev Desktop

To install Acquia Dev Desktop and an initial default website, complete the following steps:

1. Download Acquia Dev Desktop from the Acquia Downloads page. There are four downloads to choose from, including Acquia Drupal 6 and Acquia Drupal 7 versions for each of Windows and Mac OS. The Acquia Drupal 6 and Acquia Drupal 7 versions are identical except for the version of Drupal that is included in the download. You can use either version to import an existing Drupal 6 or Drupal 7 website.

2. Start the installation process. To do this, use the method based on your operating system:

3. Inspect each installation window, and after you provide any requested information, click Next.

4. Windows-only: If you want your site to be able to send email, select XMail server on the Select components page, and then click Next.

   The XMail server is a full-featured email server, and it allows sites hosted in Dev Desktop to send email.

5. On the Choose install locations page, select the directory in which to install Dev Desktop, as well as the directory for the files associated with your websites, and then click Next.

6. On the Port settings page, you can define alternate ports to access the Apache web server and MySQL database server if the standard ports conflict with other applications on your web server. After you verify the port values, click Next.

7. On the Drupal settings page, enter the following information:

   • Site name The name of your initial website.

   • Username and Password Keep a record of these login credentials. They will be the login credentials you need to log in as user 1 on your new locally-hosted website.

   • E-mail A working email address. If your local site has access to the internet, you can reset your account password using this email account.

8. Click Next.

   Complete the installation. Note that the installation process can take several minutes to complete.

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