Please Note: This page is outdated. It was for 'Acquia Dev Desktop' (version 1). The brief drupal.org page for the current version of Acquia Dev Desktop is at: Acquia Dev Desktop (version 2).

The rest of this page is Invalid/ Outdated / Deprecated

 

 

Acquia Dev Desktop (Formerly DAMP), also known as (aka) the "Acquia Drupal Stack Installer", includes everything you need to install Drupal on your Windows PC or MAC computer. Acquia Dev Desktop is available for both Drupal 7 (D7) and Drupal 6 (D6).

For Linux, maybe try: "Local multi-site installation of Drupal 7 on Linux", though I admit, I have No idea.

Since Acquia's Chief Technical Officer is Dries Buytaert, who created Drupal back in 2000, I highly recommend Acquia Dev Desktop as a way of running Drupal on your PC or MAC computer.

Acquia Dev Desktop is Free (*1), and includes these four parts: (Formerly DAMP)

Drupal
Apache,
MySQL
PHP.

• Drupal: Acquia Dev Desktop initially installs the "Acquia Drupal" version of Drupal, known as a Drupal distribution (Distro). But later you will be able to download and install any number of additional sites, including Drupal "Core", and "Distros" which are pre-built installation profiles. Or you can install additional 'Acquia Drupal' sites without having to download anything more.
• Apache: This program is the 'server' program that mimics a webhost's online server.
• MySQL: This program creates and manages the 'database' for your sites. In essence, all of the content that you add to your site is stored in a database specific to each site.
• PHP: Since Drupal is programmed in the PHP programming language, you need this php interpreter.

Acquia Dev Desktop installs separate copies of the xAMP stack onto your computer, both to ensure that you have the versions of the software required for Drupal, and to not affect the settings of the applications you've already installed on your computer. -Acquia.com. See the complete list of components under the 'Components' section on this page. (This link opens in a new tab/window.)

---

(*1)  

Acquia Dev Desktop - Documentation at acquia.com

Not-quite free: The program costs no money, but for you to see the documentation guide for 'Acquia Dev Desktop' at acquia.com, you are required to make an investment of something more precious that money. Your time. In other words, "Registration required" to view acquia.com online documentation pages.

Acquia.com - Library (Documentation) - Acquia Dev Desktop. (This link opens in a new tab/window.) Registration required.

--- 

Testing:
Acquia Dev Desktop - Drupal 7.

7.24.26-6017.53227 - To view all releases. (This link opens in a new tab/window.)

Drupal 6? The following details are specific to my use of Drupal 7. However, much, if not all of this page, should apply to D6 equally well.

 

Contents

1. Video - Introduction.
2. Know your browser's file download location; or change browser's download location.
3. Download the 'Acquia Dev Desktop' installation file.
4. Install 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.
5. 'Acquia Dev Desktop' must always be running; Start 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.
6. Using the initial, sample 'Acquia Drupal' site.
7. Additional Drupal sites - Introduction.
8. Create an additional 'Acquia Drupal' site via 'Acquia Dev Desktop' button: "New...".
9. Create a Drupal Core site, or other Drupal Distro site - Introduction.
10. Download Drupal Core archive file; or other Distro archive file.
11. Un-Compress (Extract) the downloaded Drupal Core, or Distro, archive file.
12. Note Aside: Freeware Recommendations.
13. Rename the folder you created when you extracted the Drupal archive download.
14. "Import" Drupal 7 Core, or other Distro, into 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.
15. Browser-based final Drupal installation setup for your newly imported site.
16. "/?q=user" - Emergency site Logon process.
17. Using 'Acquia Dev Desktop' Sites.
18. Deleting 'Acquia Dev Desktop' Sites.

           Back to Contents

1. Video - Introduction.

The following FREE 4-minute video quickly shows you how to:

• Download, install, and setup 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.
• Download and Import a new "Core" version of Drupal; as opposed to the sample "Acquia Drupal" version of Drupal that is initially installed by Acquia Dev Desktop.
• Complete the final browser-based installation setup of your new Drupal site.

Go to Drupal 7 Essential Training (Link opens in a new tab/window). See the first heading, "Introduction", and click the second video link: "Getting a Drupal Site Up Fast".

Unfortunately, many, if not most, of the other videos in this series, with additional installation and setup details, are not free.

The free video's reference to, "...a later video about the Drupal stack installer..." is a referrence to the non-free videos in "Section 3: Installing Drupal on Mac OS X or Windows": (1) Installing Acquia Dev Desktop: (2) Importing core Drupal into DAMP: (3) Running Drupal's installer on top of DAMP.

This Drupal handbook page incorporates some relevant details from those three additional videos.

++++++++++
START - Note aside.

I do recommend the video series "Drupal 7 Essential Training" from Lynda.com.

The video series "Drupal 7 Essential Training", featuring Mr. Thomas Geller, is based on D7 core with only a few key additional Contributed (contrib) modules. This video series taught me more about D7 during the week I spent on it than I learned during the previous 8 months I spent at drupal.org. (Lynda.com subscription rate as of 2011.08.12 was: $25 USD/ month for a very wide range of computer training videos)

Although "Drupal 7 Essential Training" was produced before Drupal 7 even had a public release, it is still 95% accurate-- with the only difference I have found being a major change in one of the contrib module user interfaces (UI)... for Views, I think it was,... I forget exactly at this moment.

END - Note aside.
++++++++++

           Back to Contents

2. Know your browser's file-download location; or change browser's download location.

Since you will next download the Acquia Dev Desktop installation file, and you will later download Drupal Core as a single compressed-archive file (or another Drupal Distribution [aka: distro] as a single compressed-archive file), it is important that you know where files are stored when you download them using your browser.

If you do not know the default location for files that you download with your browser, search for that information at Google. Go to Google (Link opens in a new tab/window), and enter the keywords below into the search field-box.

Substitute the name of your Browser for "your-browser" (Eg. firefox; internet explorer; etc.)

And substitute the name of your Operating System for "your-operating-system" (Eg. windows xp; windows vista; windows 7; mac; etc.), and then click the button: "Google Search".

Click the button: "Google Search".

Sample Google search, with 'keywords':
default file download location your-browser your-operating-system
(Link opens in a new tab/window).

How to change the default download location for your browser.

Since it varies per browser: To learn how to 'change' the default location for files downloaded by your browser, add the keyword "change" to the set of Google keywords above, before clicking the button: "Google Search".

Sample Google search, with 'keywords':
change default file download location your-browser your-operating-system
(Link opens in a new tab/window).

FireFox Browser Downloads - "Always ask me where to save files.":

I use FireFox, and I have it set to always ask me where to save downloaded files.

• "Tools" > "Options".
• Tab: "General". Heading: "Downloads". Radio-button: "Always ask me where to save files". Bottom-button: "Ok".

           Back to Contents

3. Download the 'Acquia Dev Desktop' installation file.

Acquia Dev Desktop is the Acquia Drupal Stack Installer that includes everything you need to install Drupal 7 (or D6) on your Computer: Drupal, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

1. Go to the Acquia 'Downloads' page: http://acquia.com/downloads (This link opens in a new tab/window)

2. Find the heading Acquia Dev Desktop.

3. See the Drupal version you desire (Drupal 7, or Drupal 6).

   Note that MAC might be the default choice, or Windows might be the default choice, today. But, you can choose between the Windows or MAC installers by clicking the downward-pointing arrow for either the D7 or D6 versions.

4. After you have either the MAC or Windows option set, click the Big Orange Button "Download". The installation file should immediately begin to download to your computer.

You might be able to optionally "Run" the installation file, without downloading it, but I never do. I always temporarily save installation files on my desktop. That way, if I have to interrupt an installation, I do not have to return to the website to re-acquire the link for the installation file's download.

           Back to Contents

4. Install 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.

1. Navigate on your computer to the location where you saved the Acquia Dev Desktop installation file, and click (or double-click) the file to start the installation of "Acquia Dev Desktop".

2. You will be able to leave all of the default choices as they are during the installation process for either Windows or MAC; except that in one window, you will have to enter a username, a password , and an email address.

   1. Welcome to the 'Acquia Dev Desktop' installer:

      Click Next >.

   2. Select components:

      Leave default "XMail server".

      Click Next >.

   3. Overview:

      Click Next >.

   4. License agreement:

      Yes.

      Click Next >.

   5. Choose installation location:

      You can leave the two default locations.

      To change the default locations for either the "Acquia Dev Desktop" program (Dev Desktop stack location (Apache, MySQL, etc):), or the initial sample "Acquia Drupal" site (Site location:), do one of the two following:

      • You can navigate to a pre-existing folder location on your computer by clicking on one of the two folder-icons on the right. Navigate to the folder of your choice. Highlight that folder's name. Click the button "OK".

      • Or you can type in the location of your choice. If the folders do not already exist, the Acquia Dev Desktop installation will create the necessary folders.

      1. Dev Desktop stack location (Apache, MySQL, etc): The installation process is going to install the Acquia Dev Desktop program on your computer at the location indicated by the first field-box "Dev Desktop stack location (Apache, MySQL, etc):".

         I recommend that you leave this location at its default setting, as I do. But you can change the installation location by clicking on the folder-icon on the right, and navigating to the location of your choice.

         Default installation location for Acquia Dev Desktop:

         • Windows XP:

           C:\Program Files\acquia-drupal

         • Window Vista, Windows Seven and Eight: (?? Please correct if wrong)

           C:\Program Files (x86)\acquia-drupal

         • MAC:

           /Applications/acquia-drupal

      2. Site location:

         This location is only for the unavoidable, and automatic, installation of a sample Drupal site known as 'Acquia Drupal'. This will be a Drupal site that is modified from the Drupal 7 'Core' version. 'Acquia Drupal' is an example of a Drupal contributed (contrib: contributed by the community) installation profile distribution (distro).

         Essentially, the Site location: will be the location for all of this initial sample 'Acquia Drupal' site's folders/files set (codebase); with the exception that the database will be located elsewhere. (I do not know where the database gets stored, actually. I do, however, know how to get a *.sql 'dump' file of any database, using 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.)

         If you intend to use this sample 'Acquia Drupal' installation for developing a site, or even if you just want to practice with it, I recommend you make note of this site's installation location, since you will most likely want to access these files later. In fact, I recommend you change the location.

         For my Windows operating system, I type the following location into the "Site location" text-field box:

         C:\_sites\original_dev_desktop_acquia_drupal

         That keeps this Drupal site out of any Microsoft Windows location that might be over-written, and lost, if I should ever have to, in an emergency, re-install Windows on the hard-drive.

         Note: Whatever location is specified in this 'Site location' field-box will need to be the permanent location on your computer for this initial 'Acquia Drupal' installation, because otherwise, the 'Acquia Dev Desktop' program will no longer run.

         Later, after the completion of the 'Acquia Dev Desktop' installation process, you will be able to install any number of new D7 sites, at any location of your choosing on your computer, and they will be completely independent of this initial sample 'Acquia Drupal' installation.

         Default installation location for the initial sample 'Acquia Drupal' site:

         • Windows XP:

           C:\Documents and Settings\USER-ACCOUNT-NAME\sites\acquia-drupal

         • Window Vista, Windows Seven and Eight: (?? Please correct if wrong)

           C:\Users\USER-ACCOUNT-NAME\Sites\acquia-drupal

         • MAC:

           /Users/USER-ACCOUNT-NAME/Sites/acquia-drupal

      Note, Again: Do Not, in the future, remove or move the files that comprise this original sample 'Acquia Drupal' site installation. Also, do not change the name of any parent folder above this file set on your computer. If you do, the Dev Desktop stack will no longer start or run on your computer.

      In other words: If in the future you move this original Acquia Drupal site's folders and files, or in anyway change the computer systems's path to these files, for example, by changing the Acquia Drupal site's parent folder-name, or by changing the name of any other higher-level folder that contains the Acquia Drupal site's parent folder, then the 'Acquia Dev Desktop' program will no longer run. It will throw the error, "Sites Directory not found: C:\...".

      To my knowledge, the only way I know to correct that error is by un-doing any re-naming or moving you have done; and there-by correcting the original 'Acquia Drupal' site's path/location. (For example: located by default on Windows XP at C:\Documents and Settings\USER-ACCOUNT-NAME\sites\acquia-drupal; or my preferred location at C:\_sites\original_dev_desktop_acquia_drupal)

      (Granted: Reinstalling 'Acquia Dev Desktop' would also get it working again, but I wonder what 'database' and site 'folder/file sets' would loose connectivity. ??)

      Click Next >.

   6. Port: You can leave the defaults.

      1. "Apache web server port:" The default of "8082" will result in having your site's address in your browser's address-bar in the form of "http://your-site-name:8082" for all Drupal sites you will run locally on your computer.

         In the case of Windows only (Thomas Geller reported that this is not the case with MAC): If you change the number from "8082" to "80", the address in your browser's address-bar will be in the form of "http://your-site-name" (without the ":8082"). Otherwise, there will be no noticeable difference.

      2. "MySQL database port:" - I leave the default: 33066

      Click Next >.

   7. Drupal settings:

      These settings are only for the initial "Acquia Drupal" sample site installation, but you must now enter a Username, Password (twice), and E-mail address.

      These settings have No-bearing on additional Drupal sites you can install later, including any number of additional "Acquia Drupal", "Drupal Core", or, similarly to Acquia Drupal, other packaged Drupal installation profiles known as "Distro"s.

      Whether or not you intend to use the initial sample "Acquia Drupal" installation site later, in order for you to proceed through the Acquia Dev Desktop installation process, you must now enter a Username, Password (twice), and E-mail address (for "Updates" notifications, etc.) for the sample Acquia Drupal site.

      With Drupal 7, (and I can only assume 'with Drupal 6' as well,) each of the following "Drupal Settings" can be changed later at this sample site.

      
      Complete all of the field-boxes.
      

      • Site name: Leave as default.

        The default is "My Acquia Drupal Site". This is the site name as it will appear in the 'Header' of every page on this Acquia Drupal sample site.

      • Username:

        This will be the username for the top-level administrator (known to the Drupal system as "user/1"), but only for the initial Acquia Drupal sample site as it is being administered as normal from a browser.

        There are no key-board character limitations on the username (none that I am aware of), but while I develop a site, my username is short, contains no blank-spaces, is easy to type, and is easy to remember. (Eg. "zz3")

      • Password (& Confirm password)

        This will be the password for the username above, but only for the initial Acquia Drupal sample site as it is being administered as normal from a browser.

      • E-mail:

        If you do Not intend to use the sample “Acquia Drupal” installation site later, I recommend that for your E-mail address you enter: void@sample.com to avoid the possibility of your getting emails notifying you of available updates for this site-- a site that you do Not use (Note: sample.com is a world-wide designated Dead site).

      Click Next >.

   8. Review your information:

      Click Next >. (..unless you want to change something you see on this page; in which case, click the button "< Back".

   9. Ready to install:

      Click Next >.

      The installation can take several minutes; at least.

      I did address one pop-up window that asked me if I wanted to "un-block" this application from my Windows XP firewall; and I did click the button "un-block" (or similar).

      Do not close, and do not worry about any black-screen command prompt windows. As for example, do not close, and do not do anything to the window "c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe".

      All extra windows eventually disappear on their own, leaving only the Acquia Dev Desktop installation window. So,... Eventually...

   10. Congratulations, you're done!:

       Leave the default check-mark for "Launch the Acquia Drupal control panel to start the stack and access your new Drupal web site!", and the Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel, the main program window, will appear after you...

       Click Finish.

The "Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel" window should now appear.

• The two circles to the right of...

  • Apache Web Server
  • MySQL Database Server

  ...should both be GREEN. (Not gray.)

  If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

Note: The initial sample "Acquia Drupal" site is completely installed. You can immediately visit the home page, or administer the site. (See below: Using the initial, sample Acquia Drupal site.) You do not even have to go through the browser-based installation steps typically required by a Drupal site installation.

After you have installed Acquia Dev Desktop, you will no longer need the installer file

...expect that you might want to store it somewhere else for possible future use, as, for example, to reinstall the program; or possibly you might want to refer back to the Acquia Dev Desktop installer file to see what version you used to install the program.

I assume that Drupal will alert me (via my core module 'Update manager') if and when the 'Acquia Drupal' distro has a new version out.

However, as to new versions of 'Acquia Dev Desktop', I wonder how best to keep track of possible new releases. ??

           Back to Contents

5. 'Acquia Dev Desktop' must always be running; Start 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.

To view, or work on, your computer's Drupal sites, the 'Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel' window must be left running. You can 'minimize' it, but do not 'close' it.

The 'Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel' window will have been running immediately after you installed Acquia Dev Desktop as described above.

However, if you close the 'Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel' window, or if you restart your computer, you will need to restart 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.

No Windows desktop icons (nor Windows quick-launch icons) were created when the 'Acquia Dev Desktop' was installed. So, to start the 'Acquia Dev Desktop', and display the 'Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel' window,...

Starting 'Acquia Dev Desktop': “AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel.exe”

• Windows XP:
  "Start" > "All Programs" > "Acquia Dev Desktop" > "Control Panel"

  The file to start Acquia Dev Desktop's Control Panel is located at...
  C:\Program Files\acquia-drupal\AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel\AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel.exe

• Windows Vista, Windows Seven and Eight:
  "Start" > "Programs" > ???

  The file to start Acquia Dev Desktop's Control Panel is located at: (?? Please correct if wrong)
  C:\Program Files (x86)\acquia-drupal\AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel\AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel.exe

• MAC:
  "Finder" > "Applications" > "acquia-drupal" > "acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel" >

  The file to start Acquia Dev Desktop's Control Panel is located at...
  /Application/acquia-drupal/Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel

 

At the 'Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel' window, the two circles to the right of...

• Apache Web Server
• MySQL Database Server

...should both be GREEN. (Not gray.)

If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

           Back to Contents

6. Using the initial, sample 'Acquia Drupal' site.

When you installed Acquia Dev Desktop, you automatically installed an 'Acquia Drupal' version of Drupal. 'Acquia Drupal' is a packaged Drupal installation known as a "Drupal Distro" (Distro means "Distribution") that contains not only the "Drupal Core" set of site folders/files, and the standard Core modules, but also additional "Contrib Modules" that compliment each other.

"Acquia Drupal" is known within Acquia Dev Desktop under the name "localhost".

Unlike every other Drupal site you might create, the Acquia Drupal site requires absolutely no additional installation after you have installed Acquia Dev Desktop. It is ready to go.

Access the sample Acquia Drupal site.

1. Open the "Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel".

   The two circles to the right of...

   • Apache Web Server
   • MySQL Database Server

   ...should both be GREEN. (Not gray.)

   If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

2. localhost: Set "localhost" as the name in the field-box in the right-hand column just under the button "Go to my site". (If it is not already.)

   If it is not already set to "localhost", click the downward-pointing-arrow to the right of that field-box, and then click "localhost".

3. Click "Go to my site".

Acquia Drupal's bizarre addon module location

"Acquia Drupal" contains all of the Drupal Core folders/files, but as with all other Drupal Distros (installation profiles), Acquia Drupal also includes additional Modules. Acquia Drupal presently installs seven additional Modules; but puts them in a most unusual location.

Typically addon modules are installed in [your-drupal-root]/sites/all/modules, and this is in fact the location where future addon modules will be installed if you install them using the D7 automated installation process that only requires you to input the modules's download location URL.

Strange to me is the fact that Acquia Drupal's seven additional-to-core modules are located at [your-drupal-root]/profiles/acquia/modules; which is to say that they are Not installed in the normal standard recommended location that addon modules are generally installed after your site is up and running.

Implied by this is that, for example, when it comes time to update the Drupal 7 core, for example from D7.7 to D7.8, you will have to download the Acquia Drupal distro for D7.8 from Acquia; and you will not be able to simply use the new D7.8 version of the Core from drupal.org.

The Acquia Drupal installation profile's addon Modules List - 2011.08.24.

I have not used Acquia Drupal, and so I know little about it.

The following may or may not be of value to you.

"Acquia Drupal" installs seven additional-to-core Modules (note that some of the Modules per-se actually contain multiple modules within each, and this is common with many if not most of the modules that you will later install).

Acquia Modules installed at [your-drupal-root]/profiles/acquia/modules

1. Acquia Network Connector
   • Acquia agent
   • Acquia search
   • Acquia site information
2. Apache Solr
   • Apache Solr Access
   • Apache Solr frameword
   • Apache Solr search
   • Apache Solr Taxonomy
3. Chaos Tool Suite (aka CTools)
   • Bulk Export
   • Chaos Tools
   • Chaos Tool (CTools) AJAX Example
   • Chaos Tool (CTools) Plugin Example
   • Custom content panes
   • Custom rulesets
   • Page manager
   • Stylizer
   • Views content panes
4. Facet API (on the Modules page in the "Search Toolkit" section)
5. Mollum (on the Modules page in the "Other" section)
6. Pathauto (on the Modules page in the "Other" section)
7. Token (on the Modules page in the "Other" section)

 

Newer Acquia Drupal distros.

In the event that a new Acquia Drupal distro release becomes available in the future, you will be able to "Import" the new version of the "Acquia Drupal" installation profile.

Check for the latest version of "Acquia Drupal":

1. Go to Acquia's download page: http://acquia.com/downloads (This link opens in a new tab/window).
2. Look for "Acquia Drupal - Full install", and check the latest version number at the end of the file name to see if it is more recent than the one you last used.

For instructions on how to incorporate the newer "Acquia Drupal" distro, or any new version of Drupal, into Acquia Dev Desktop, see further below on this page: Create a Drupal Core site, or other Drupal Distro site - Introduction.

           Back to Contents

7. Additional Drupal sites - Introduction.

Acquia Dev Desktop supports unlimited additional Drupal installations.

• You can immediately create "New" additional Acquia Drupal sites using the version of Acquia Drupal that you downloaded with Acquia Dev Desktop.
• You can download and "Import" a Drupal Core site.
• You can download and "Import" other Drupal Distro sites.
• If and when it becomes available, you can download and "Import" a newer 'Acquia Drupal' distro version.

           Back to Contents

8. Create an additional 'Acquia Drupal' site via 'Acquia Dev Desktop' button: "New...".

You can immediately create additional 'Acquia Drupal' distro sites. That process uses the 'Acquia Drupal' distro version that came with your original download of 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.

1. Start Acquia Dev Desktop. See Acquia Dev Desktop must always be running; Start Acquia Dev Desktop above for details.

2. Check that both Drupal Stack buttons are GREEN. If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top-button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

3. Click the right-column button "Settings...".

4. Click the 'Settings' window's top-tab "Sites".

5. The right-column button "New" will only ever be used to create additional 'Acquia Drupal' sites.

   Click the right-column button "New".

6. Window: 'New site'.

   Line: 'Site name'. Enter a name, as for example:
   Acquia Drupal site 2

   This will be the name in the 'header' at the top of every page of the new site. It can be changed later.

   Click the button: "OK".

   Your new 'Acquia Drupal' site will automatically use the same Username, Password, and E-mail that you assigned to the original sample 'Acquia Drupal' site.

   •    Back to Contents
   •       Create a Drupal Core site, or other Drupal Distro site - Introduction.
   •       Using Acquia Dev Desktop Sites.

   [Note Aside.]
   I personally do not use 'Acquia Drupal', nor have I used a multi-site setup before, and so the remainder of this section is incomplete.
   [END - Note Aside.]

   If you want access to additional options the next time you create a new 'Acquia Drupal' site, repeat the process above, but next time when you get to the "New site" window, put a checkmark in the box preceeding...

   I want custom site details and account settings.

   Note that as you change the text for 'Site name', the characters you enter also play a role in determining the default choices and displays for:

   • 'Database name:'
   • 'Subdomain' name
   • 'Site URL'

   Also note that the 'Site path' will not change because it is the path to the original 'Acquia Drupal' site that was initially installed when 'Acquia Dev Desktop' was installed.

   To change any of the settings in this 'New site' window that are possible to change, put a check-mark in the box preceeding, "I want custom site details and account settings".

   This new 'Acquia Drupal' site will be part of a multi-site setup of Drupal in conjunction with the original 'Acquia Drupal' sample site.

   Let us say that your original sample 'Acquia Drupal' site's folders/files are located at: (based on your having followed the suggested examples further above.)

   C:\_sites\original_dev_desktop_acquia_drupal\

   For the site being created, all of the folders/files unique to this new site will be located in a folder "[HERE]" in the following path.

   C:\_sites\original_dev_desktop_acquia_drupal\sites\[HERE]

   The exact name of the folder that you will see created will be based on the "Server" text-field box, and the "Subdomain" text-field box.

   The new site's folder name will have the form of "subdomainName.serverName". Or, in the case that the 'Subdomain' field is blank, then the folder created will have the form of "serverName".

   C:\_sites\original_dev_desktop_acquia_drupal\sites\subdomainName.serverName\

   Or, in the case that the 'Subdomain' field is blank, then the folder created will have the form of "serverName".

   C:\_sites\original_dev_desktop_acquia_drupal\sites\serverName\

7. Click "OK".
8. Close the "Settings" window by clicking either "OK" or "Cancel".

Just like with the original 'Acquia Drupal' sample site installation, you will not have to go through the normal browser based final installation setup process for your new 'Acquia Drupal' site.

To start using your newer Acquia Drupal site:

1. In the "Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel" window...
2. ...in the right-column just under the button "Go to my site"...
3. ...click on the downward-pointing-arrow to the right of the field-box
4. Find and click the name of site you want to use. Note that 'localhost' refers to the originally installed Acquia Drupal sample site.
5. Click the button "Go to my site".

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9. Create a Drupal Core site, or other Drupal Distro site - Introduction.

Using Drupal Core, or other Distros for your site: (Distro: aka "Drupal distribution", or "Installation Profiles"); as opposed to only using the Acquia Drupal distro that came packaged with Acquia Dev Desktop.

Instead of using the preinstalled Acquia Drupal distro version for your site, you can "Import" into Acquia Dev Desktop any number of different additional Drupal versions.

You can create sites using the basic Drupal version known as "Core", with its standard set of core modules.

Or you can import into Acquia Dev Desktop any number of different Drupal Distro installation profiles, with their multiple addon modules intended to compliment each other.

Or, you can even import a Newer Acquia Drupal distro version, if and when available.

Core

Drupal Core is a complete set of website building files, but you are likely going to want to later add additional features with addon Contributed (Contrib) Modules.

Distros

All of the Distros will include Drupal Core plus additional modules.

Each Distro is designed to have a site serve a specific purpose, such as, for example, an eCommerce or a non-profit site. As such, each Distro will contain a unique set of addon complimentary Modules intended to be a one-stop solution to save you having to hunt down the best modules for your own site's needs.

I suggest you go to the Drupal.org page Installation profiles (Link opens in new tab/window) if you are interested in a pre-packaged site with Core extended features via security tested modules.

Contrib Module Security is assured given that any Contrib module must get security approval before it is listed at drupal.org (d.o) in the Module section at Download Modules at Drupal.org [http://drupal.org/project/modules]. (Link opens in new tab/window)

Distro Security: To the best of my knowledge, the Distro Installation profiles (Link opens in new tab/window) listed on drupal.org (d.o) will have passed security tests for any of their addon modules that are not among the modules freely available at d.o.

So be aware that while you might find other Drupal Distros outside of d.o, and while the Distro's creators might have no malicious intent, possible security holes in their addon module software is an issue you need to be aware of to keep your site secure (when it goes online).

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10. Download Drupal Core archive file; or other Distro archive file.

Assuming that you want to create a site using a version of Drupal other than the "Acquia Drupal" version that installed with Acquia Dev Desktop:

1. You will have to find and download another version; which will come as a single compressed-archived file.

2. You will need to un-compress the downloaded archive file.

3. You can then "Import" it into Acquia Dev Desktop.

This is also the process you could use to "Import" a newer version of Acquia Drupal when it becomes available, as for example, when a new updated version of Drupal 7 Core is released, and Acquia integrates the new Core version into a new version of Acquia Drupal; newer than whatever version of Acquia Drupal came with the Acquia Dev Desktop you originally installed.

Download Drupal Core

Go to the Drupal Core download page: http://drupal.org/project/drupal (Link opens in new tab/window).

Go to that page's bottom and find the heading "Downloads", and see the the sub-heading "Recommended releases" for the recommended stable versions of Drupal. The development releases are only intended for those who want to test a more recent version of the Core in its developmental state, but which is not necessarily stable enough for public release.

The links "tar.gz (zzz MB)" and "zip (xxx MB)" are each links to single files. Each file contains the exact same set of compressed Drupal Core files and folders. The two different files are simply two different types of file compression, so either of them should be fine. If you have a problem with one, use the other.

If you are using Internet Explorer (IE) as a browser, I do recommend the tar.gz file link over the *.zip link; since I seem to remember reading somewhere months and months ago, that IE was forcing a change in *.zip file extensions upon the downloading of any *.zip file. (I forggit, exactly...[circa d7.7, or earlier...].)

To download either of the Drupal Core compressed archive files, either the *.tag.gz file, or the *.zip file, click either of the webpage-links, and that will hopefully start its download; regardless of what browser you are using, as is the case with my using FireFox.

If your download does not start after you click one of those links, you can force the download of the file as follows.

RIGHT-mouse-click either the "tar.gz (zzz MB)" or "zip (xxx MB)" webpage-link, and in the drop-down menu that appears,...

• if you use FireFox click "Save Link As...".
• if you use Internet Explorer click "Save Target As...".

Note: Anytime a webpage-link is directly to a file such as the two files above, (as opposed to the webpage-link being a link to another webpage, for example), and anytime you want to download that file to your computer,-- be it, for example, a *.mp3 file, a text document, or a compressed archive file, etc.-- You can always download that file via that webpage-link using the same process as used in the example above.

Download any other Distro

Use the instructions above as a guide to download any Drupal distro you might find. I have no experience with them, but the process for downloading and using them should be essentially identical to using Drupal Core. Distros on drupal.org (d.o) are at Installation profiles (Link opens in new tab/window).

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11. Un-Compress (Extract) the downloaded Drupal Core, or Distro, archive file.

Choose or create a location for your Drupal site(s) files and folders.

You can place the files and folders for your Drupal site anywhere you want on your computer.

However, I assume that whatever location I choose will be a semi-permanent location, since that is the location that Acquia Dev Desktop will look for it; firstly.

Secondly, newbie that I am, I do Not know how to modify Acquia Dev Desktop, if, in the future, I should want to move those site files and folders (aka: directories) else-where on my computer; or if in the future I should want to rename this folder, or rename this folder's parent folder, or rename any higher level directory on my computer system.

C:\00\sites

Using windows, I create a top-level folder that I know is outside of the Windows operating system folders.

For example, a folder named "00" at C:\00. I then create a sub-folder "sites" within the "00"-folder. I will later recommend that you download any Drupal Core compressed-archive file, or Drupal Distro compressed-archive file to the location "HERE" at C:\00\sites\[HERE].

Windows: NOT in "My documents"; NOR on "Desktop".

Using Windows XP as I do, I personally ALWAYS avoid using the "Desktop", the "MY Documents" folder and its sub-folders; or any other location in the directory c:/Documents and Settings for items I do not want to loose.

The reason is that in the event that the Windows operating system becomes corrupted and needs to reinstalled, I do not want to risk losing my files within assorted Windows folders that might be deleted during a Windows operating system reinstallation.

I simply create shortcuts on my Desktop that lead to various Drupal folders within C:\00.

Place the downloaded Core *.tar.gz or *.zip file within the folder that you want to use to store your Drupal site(s).

For example, place the file in the folder at C:\00\sites\NEW-ARCHIVED-DRUPAL-FILE (assuming you have created that location).

Again, for ease of access to all of your Drupal sites, you might want to create a shortcut on your Desktop-- a shortcut to the "sites" folder.

Un-compress the Core *.tar.gx or *.zip file using your operating system's archive utility program, or other archive utility program you may have installed. (Or download, and install a free archive utility program. See below: Note Aside: Freeware Recommendations.)

As I understand it, if you are using MAC, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, then you need only click (double-click) the *.tar.gx or *.zip file (or whatever type of archived file you may have gotten a Distro in) to begin the process for un-compressing the compressed-archive file into the same folder in which it resides.

If clicking the archive file simply opens up a window that shows you its contents, then close that window.

In the case of my using Windows XP, and the archiving program WinRAR, clicking the *.tar.gz or *.zip file simply opens it for viewing, and does Not in fact de-compress it. I have to RIGHT-Click the archive file, and in the drop-down menu that appears, I have to hover upon the WinRAR icon. Then an additional drop-down menus appears; and I have to click "Extract here" to de-compress the file.

If clicking the file initiates a window asking you what program you want to use to access it-- because you are using Windows XP for example, and you do not have a file archive utility installed-- See below: Note Aside: Freeware Recommendations to find a free program (freeware) suitable for your operating system. Download it and install it.

Although I use WinRAR, I do recommend "7-Zip" (Link opens in a new tab/window) as a FREE solution since I have heard good things about it for years. (Download the *.exe version for Windows)

The de-compression of the Core *.tar.gx or *.zip file will create a folder named similarly to "Drupal-7.x".

And hopefully that newly created folder will have been placed precisely such that if you navigate into it, you will see a folder named "includes" (among others) located at C:\00\sites\Drupal-7.x\includes. If not, move the Drupal-7.x folder that contains the folder "includes" into C:\00\sites (for example).

You can now delete the archive file that you downloaded if you like; or save it for possible future use in case you get curious about what your site's files originally were; exactly.

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12. Note Aside: Freeware Recommendations.

Google: 46 free.

For a very wide range of freeware recommendations, the very greatest website that I know of, and that I have been using for the last eight-years, changed names to something I can never remember. But I am not worried, because I just remember "46 free".

The site was originally called "46 Best Freeware Programs", or something like that.

Now I find it everytime I want it by typing into Google, 46 free and I always get back to it because it is at the top of Google's list.

The site is now at:

Gizmos Freeware Reviews - <www.techsupportalert.com> (Link opens in new tab/window). See. It is hard to remember.

46 free: That is what I remember;
but gizmo works equally well at Google for finding it.

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13. Rename the folder you created when you extracted the Drupal archive download.

If you downloaded Drupal core, then the extracted folder is named similarly to "Drupal-7.x". If you downloaded a distro, then the extracted folder will likely have a different name.

Although you could use this folder 'named' such as it is, I recommend you rename this folder to something akin to the name you will eventually use for your online site. (Eg. my-new-drupal-site)

Site folder name choice recommendations

I use only lower-case alphabetic characters (a to z), numerals (0 to 9), hyphens (-), and underscores (_); although I generally do not start a folder name with a hyphen, or underscore. I never use blank-spaces for file and folder names, and I never use upper-case alphabetic characters (Never "A" to "Z").

• As a hard-fast rule, I never use upper-case alphabetic characters (Never "A" to "Z") for folder and file names, particularly if I am going to use those files and folders online. I have always avoided the possible problems of name conflicts associated with case mismatch (upper and lower-case mixing) online, since some applications always reduce upper-case to lower. That could be a problem when I try to access an online folder or file by name, so I Never-Ever use upper-case characters for folder and file names.

• "-", & "_": The hyphen character "-", (aka: the dash character), and the underscore character "_" can be used freely, although I recommend they Not be used as the first character of this folder's name. It is true that I do not know whether that would be a problem. ...Better safe than sorry.

  SEO Note Aside (Search Engine Optimization): As I understand it, Google treats "bestwebsiteever" and "best-website-ever" equally.

• Do Not use the name "localhost" since that is the name used by the original default "Acquia Drupal" site installation.

If you have not already done so, rename the folder you created when you extracted the Drupal archive download:

As for example, from...
Drupal-7.x
...to ...
my-new-drupal-site

If you have been using all of the recommendations above on this page, your new drupal site will be located at:
C:\00\sites\my-new-drupal-site
and will be ready to 'Import' into Acquia Dev Desktop.

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14. 'Import' Drupal 7 Core, or other Distro, into 'Acquia Dev Desktop'.

1. Start Acquia Dev Desktop. See Acquia Dev Desktop must always be running; Start Acquia Dev Desktop above for details.

2. Check that both Drupal Stack buttons are GREEN. If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

3. Click the right-column button "Settings...".

4. Click the 'Settings' window's top-tab "Sites".

5. Note that the 'New' button is only for replicating a new 'Acquia Drupal' distro site, in addition to the sample 'Acquia Drupal' site originally created by the installation of the Acquia Dev Desktop program.

   Click the 'Sites'-tab right-column button "Import".

6. In the "Import site" window, and under the heading "Codebase:" line "Site path:". Click the button "Browse...".

7. In the "Browse For Folder" window, navigate to the location of your renamed Drupal archive folder. As for example, the location you may have created and used according to the instructions above, "C:\00\sites\my-new-drupal-site".

8. Highlight that folder in the top portion of the window by clicking it once; and then click the button "OK".

9. Back in the "Import site" window under the heading "Codebase:" line "Subsite", make sure that the subsite choice is 'default'. If this is the first time you are importing a site into Acquia Dev Desktop, then 'default' will be your only option. If you have already imported another Drupal site into Acquia Dev Desktop, then that prior site might be being listed as the subsite. Change the subsite to 'default', if it is not already 'default', unless you want to use a previously imported site in a multi-site setup (a setup I have no experience with).

   In the "Import site" window under the heading "Database:"

   • Note that the radio-button for "I have a MySQL Database dump file for my site" is choosen by default. The "Dump file" field-box is associated with that radio-button, and is for a pre-existing Database file.

   • Click the radio-button "Create new database".

10. "New DB name:". Enter a name in this field-box.

    I recommend starting the database name with a lower-case alphabetic character; and then using only lower-case alphabetic characters, numerals, and the under-score character.

    Former restrictions: Years ago, when I used MySQL online at my webhost through the webhost's Control Panel (CPanel) interface, the database name was restricted in length to 11-characters, and allowed only lower-case alphabetic-characters, numerals, and the under-score character.

    While those restrictions are gone today at my webhost, I feel compelled to mention it now in case you are under those old restrictions.

    I do not know what if any complications you might incur in the future on your webhost, but if you name your Database now according to my former restrictions, you are more likely to avoid problems later when you try to transfer your database from your computer to your webhost.

11. Under the heading "Domain", and at the line "Server:" Change the name "localhost" to a new name.

    The name “localhost” is the name being used by the original default “Acquia Drupal” sample site installation.

    For simplicity, you can enter the same name that you used when you renamed the uncompressed Drupal-archive folder above.

    See above for my Site folder name choice recommendations for a few clues as to what characters you might want to use or avoid.

12. The "Subdomain:" line can be left blank as it is by default.

13. The "URL path:" line can be left blank as it is by default.

14. Note the line "Site URL". This is the address that will appear in your browser's address bar when you are at your site's home page; and it is based on the name you entered into the "Server" line just above.

    You will Not have to remember this URL, Nor will you have to enter this URL into your browser, since you can easily get to your site later via the "Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel".

15. Click the button "Import".

16. The import process takes a little time, and will eventually open your browser to the final browser-based installation steps for your new Drupal site.

Back at the "Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel", the "Settings" window will still be open. Close the "Settings" window by clicking "OK" or "Cancel".

You will need to finalize the installation of your new Drupal site using your browser. Follow the instructions that follow here.

Note that, if necessary, or if you just want to, you can now close your browser window, or even restart your computer-- worry-free.

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15. Browser-based final Drupal installation setup for your newly imported site.

The browser window that opened after the final step of "import"ing a new version of Drupal into Acquia Dev Desktop (in the step just above) is the typical first page you will see for every new Drupal site that you create.

The only exception to the following setup steps would be if you had created your site using the "New" button at the Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel, and you had therefore created a copy of the sample version of Acquia Drupal that shipped with the Acquia Dev Desktop version that you originally downloaded and installed.

If the browser window that should have opened after the last step of "Import" above is closed for some reason, you can reopen your site to that page in your browser by:

1. Start Acquia Dev Desktop (If it is not already running). See Acquia Dev Desktop must always be running; Start Acquia Dev Desktop above for details.

2. Check that both Drupal Stack buttons are GREEN. If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

3. In the right-column under the button "Go to my site", click the downward-pointing arrow to the right of the field-box.

4. Find and click the name of your site so that it displays in the field-box.

5. Click the button "Go to my site"

That should open your browser, and after it has, you can minimize the "Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel" window. The Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel must remain running, however.

The final browser-based installation setup steps for your Drupal site.

If you are wondering, "Are we there yet?", then your thoughts mirror mine; and the answer is, "Yes. Close, anyway."

1. "Select an installation profile" page.

   The first window "Select an installation profile" has only two radio-buttons. "Standard" (default), and "Minimal".

   These two choices simply control which set of Core modules will be initially "Enabled" right now.

   "Standard" does Not enable all of the core modules, and "Minimal" will simply not enable some of the modules that Standard otherwise would.

   As with all modules in Drupal, you will later be able to enable or un-enable each of them individually. So I recommend you...

   Leave "Standard". Click the button "Save and continue".

2. "Choose Language" page:

   Presently, the Drupal 7.25 Core installation has only one radio-button. "English (built-in)".

   Click the button "Save and contiune"; OR...

   If you click "Learn how to install Drupal in other languages", you will be exploring territory I have not fully explored.

   The page that loads if you do click that link, however, does have a link at its bottom "Continue installation in English" that does the same thing as if you had clicked "Save and contiune" on the former English page.

3. (Possibly; or Not) AJAX Error Page

   Do not worry if you next briefly see a page with the words (or similar)...

   The installation has encountered an error.
   Please continue to the error page
   An AJAX HTTP request terminated abnormally. Debugging information follows. Path: http://test3334:8082/install.php?profile=standard&locale=en&id=1&op=do StatusText: ResponseText: ReadyState: 4

   That AJAX error page is common, and it should quickly go away. You might even have missed it if you blinked.

4. "Configure site" page:

   All of these items can be changed later if you desire. (The Red-asterisk indicates a field that you are required to have non-blank)

   • "Site information"

     The site information can be changed later by clicking the administrative menu button "Configuration" at the top of each of your site's pages; and then, under that page's heading "System", clicking the link "Site information".

     • "Site name *"

       The default site name here coincides with the name you used in the "Import" process above in the "Server" field-box; and you might notice that this default name is also part of your site's URL in your browser's address bar.

       At this point, however, this "Site name *" field-box will only control the text characters that display at the top of all of you site's pages in the "Header" region.

       Change the Site Name to any name you would like to have displayed in your header.

       You will be able in the future to change this name. You will also be able to turn the site name off and on-- either globally as a default for any new theme, or on a theme-by-theme basis.

     • "Site e-mail address *"

       Assuming you are connected to the internet, your Acquia Dev Desktop site is fully capable of sending out e-mails, and this will be the "From:" e-mail address listed on all outgoing email.

       At this point, since your site will not be accessed by others, the e-mail address you enter here is not critical. You will simply see it as the "sender"

       • on test e-mails you generate, or..

       • on "Update Notifications" (assuming you leave that option enabled in a moment-- as described further below.)

   • "Site maintenance account"

     The Site maintenance account details can be changed later by clicking the administrative menu button "Hello YOUR-USERNAME" at the top of each of your site's pages; and then clicking the tab "Edit".

     • "Username *"

       This is the site's "Super-user" (aka "user/1") login name. It is CRITICAL that you remember this name.

       User-1 is the only user that will always have complete access to every possible configuration option without having to be given specific permission.

       Some module permissions will later have to be enabled for user-1, but user-1 will always have access to those permissions as needed.

       Your username will display on your site exactly as you enter it here. You can use both upper-case and lower-case alphabetic characters in this displayed name.

       Later if you want to login to your site, you can do so using either case of the alphabetic character. In other words, you can login using lower-case characters even if your username employes upper-case characters.

     • "E-mail address"

       Your Acquia Dev Desktop site is fully capable of sending out e-mails assuming you are connected to the internet.

       This is the e-mail address to which all notices to you will go.

       Enter a valid e-mail address of yours since this is e-mail address that will be used to send you your password if you forget it.

       This e-mail address will also be helpful to you later as you test certain functionalities of your site.

     • "Password *"

       Password characters are case-sensitive; which is to say that "a" is Not the same as "A".

       An 8-character password would take an average of approximately five-thousand years for someone to stumble upon if they were to hand type entries.

       A Bot-program from Belize could do it quicker than that, but in all sincerity, you should be in good shape if you always use at least 8-characters.

       Do not you use your pet's name if you are inclined to talk about your pets in chat rooms.

       Do not use any common word nor any name that corresponds to you directly.

     • "Confirm Password *": This entry must match the Password above in precise fashion including "case".

   • "Sever Settings"

     The server settings can be changed by later clicking the administrative menu button "Configuration" at the top of any of your site's pages; and then, under configuration page's heading "Regional and language", clicking the link "Regional settings".

     • "Default country"

       I really do not know what this does. Sometimes I change it from its default of "None" to "United States" just to see what might happen, but I have never noticed any difference between the two.

     • "Default time zone"

       Although Time is my mortal enemy, the time of day is irrelevant to me.

       Actually, that statement is my way of distracting you from the fact that I do not know the far-reaching affects of this setting. Although I presume that this time setting determines the time as I see it for everything on my site, I do Not know how this setting affects other potential users on my site when they are in different time-zones.

   • "Update Notifications"

     This setting, as well as additional update settings, can later be adjusted by clicking the administrative menu button "Reports"; and then clicking the link "Available Updates"; and then clicking the tab "Settings".

   • "Check for updates automatically".

     This box should always be left checked so that your site will let you know when updates are available for not only your Drupal version, but also the site's modules and themes.

     This setting is controlled later on the "Modules" page by having the Core module "Update manager" either enabled or un-enabled.

   • "Receive e-mail notifications "

     This setting, as well as additional update settings, can later be adjusted by clicking the administrative menu button "Reports"; and then clicking the link "Available Updates"; and then clicking the tab "Settings".

     That page will be unavailable, however, if you have the Core module "Update manager" un-enabled.

   Click the button "Save and continue"

5. "Drupal Installation Complete" page.

   This page should read "Congratulations, you installed Drupal!".

   Click the link "Visit your new site".

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16. "/?q=user" - Emergency site Logon process.

If you log-out, or if you delete your browser cookies (which logs you out), while your site is in 'maintenance mode'; or if you log-out after you have set the "User login" block to not display for 'Anonymous user', you will not have a link to re-Login to your site.

To login again, ...

1. Go to your site's home page.

2. In your browser's address-bar, add the following 8-characters to the end of your site's home page URL.

   / (forward-slash; if there is not already one there; do Not use two forward-slashes in-a-row), ?, q, =, u,s,e, and r.

   (HOME-PAGE-URL/?q=user)

3. Press the key-board key "Enter".

Note: In you have previously set your site to 'Enable clean URLs', then you only have to add /user to the end of your site's home-page-URL.

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17. Using 'Acquia Dev Desktop' Sites.

1. Start Acquia Dev Desktop if it is not already running. See above: Acquia Dev Desktop must always be running; Start Acquia Dev Desktop for details.

   In the "Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel" window, the two circles to the right of "Apache Web Server" and "MySQL Database Server" should both be GREEN. (Not gray.) If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

2. At the Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel window, in the right-hand column, set the site-name in the drop-down menu, and then click the button just above: "Go to my site".

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18. Deleting 'Acquia Dev Desktop' Sites.

Warning:

• Regarding the original sample Acquia Drupal site installation that was created when you installed Acquia Dev Desktop:

  Acquia Dev Desktop will not allow you to 'edit' the server details, nor 'delete' the original sample Acquia Drupal site installation known as "localhost".

  Do Not delete or move the original Acquia Drupal site files and folders on your computer that were first created when you installed Acquia Dev Desktop. If you do, Acquia Dev Desktop will not run. For more info, see above at: Do Not, in the future, remove or move the files that comprise this original sample “Acquia Drupal” site installation.

  You can delete the "acquia_drupal" database, and Acquia Dev Desktop will still run, but why play with fire unnecessarily.

• The database for the site you delete will be lost.

• This site's "sites" folder, and all of its contents, will be deleted, so make a copy of it if you want anything from it before you delete a site using Acquia Dev Desktop.

  Using as an example a site that is presently listed in the Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel as "test-site-to-delete", the folder "test-site-to-delete" will be entirely deleted from the following location on your computer:

  C:\00-sites\my-new-drupal-site\sites\test-site-to-delete

  That includes, but by no means is limited to, the settings.php file.

How To Delete Drupal Sites from Acquia Dev Desktop.

1. Start 'Acquia Dev Desktop' if it is not already running. See above: Acquia Dev Desktop must always be running; Start Acquia Dev Desktop for details.

   In the 'Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel' window, the two circles to the right of 'Apache Web Server' and 'MySQL Database Server' should both be GREEN. (Not gray.) If both circles are not green, click the right-hand column's top button "Start Acquia Drupal Stack".

2. Click the right-column button "Settings...".

3. Click the 'Settings' window's top-tab "Sites".

4. On the left, click one of the lines; the line corresponding to the Drupal site you want to delete.

5. On the right, click the button: "Delete".

6. The "Delete Acquia Drupal Site" confirmation box appears.

7. Click the button: "Ok".

8. Close the "Settings" window by clicking "OK" or "Cancel".

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