Overview:

1. Install a local server (Mac: MAMP, PC: WAMP, Multi-platform: XAMPP)
2. Create a new database
3. Download and Install Drupal
4. Copy default-settings.php to settings.php
5. Run install.php
6. Create php.ini and set PHP memory limit to 16MB
7. Clear your cache

1. Local Server

Running a web application that uses PHP or a database requires a local host.

• Mac users should use MAMP
• Windows users should use WAMP
• Linux/Solaris users should use XAMPP

2. Create a new Database

If you're using MAMP, your browser will be directed to http://localhost:8888/MAMP/ once you open the program. Beware that other local hosts will do this differently. Click the link phpMyAdmin from the main navigation and create a new Database called db_drupal.

3. Download and Install Drupal

Download the latest version of Drupal. Move drupal into your htdocs folder (Applications/MAMP/htdocs/)

4. Duplicate and rename default-settings.php

Open /htdocs/drupal-6.13/sites/default/. From the right-click menu, duplicate and rename default.settings.php to settings.php

5. Run install.php

Address your browser to localhost:8888/drupal-6.13/install.php.
Select Install Drupal in English.

Enter your database information (username and password root)
Click the Save and Continue button.

Ensure that you see this confirmation message.

Enter your Site information (name and email).
Create an administrator account (username / email / password).
Check your server settings with the settings below.

Save and Continue to complete the configuration process.

6. Set memory limit to 16MB

• Create a new plain text file in your favourite editor (Smultron works great for MacOS)
• Name that file php.ini
• Inside php.ini simply put the following code: memory_limit = 16M
• Place php.ini in the root directory of your website ( /htdocs/drupal-6.13/)

7. Clear your cache

Before you will be able to create any content you will have to clear Drupal's cache/run cron.

• Browse to the administration section of your Drupal website (localhost:8888/drupal-6.13/admin)
• Under Site configuration, click the Preformance link
• On the next page, browse to the bottom and select the 'Clear cached data' button

Now you should be able to create, edit, post and view content just as if you were actually working on a web server. Check drupal.org for more information on how to expand Drupal.