Configuring php.ini path

Im using php version 4.3.8 and im trying to setup a small webserver on my usb memory stick so i can work on my php projects when im at college without having to work ways arround the college firewalls and blocks on ftp. The only problem i have is that i cannot load the php.ini file from its location at e:\php. i have tried setting the path to the php.ini file using the PHPRC enviroment variable. I have tried it within the apache httpd.conf file. With no change and i have tried it on the command line. It works by using set at the command line. But at college i do not have access to the command line. And when i add a variable using set PHPRC=e:/php. it does not seem to work. Any help or idea's would be helpfull. Thanks Jamie