php.ini is not working in PHP4

I uses the following commands for the compilation: ./configure --with-apxs=/www/bin/apxs --with-mysql --with-config-path=/www/c onf --with-xml After installtion PHP works fine in Apache but I can't change the environment variables like safe_mode=on and tmp_upload_dir= . When I run <? phpinfo(); ?> i get something strange Configuration File (php.ini) Path = /usr/local/lib But I compiled it on /www/conf. When I place a php.ini file in one of the maps and I reboot the Apache server nothing happens. It still got the same variables and it seams the systeen does not read the php.ini file. I spend 10 hours on reading info about PHP but al the installation documentation is for PHP3. What is the problem? How do I activate the php.ini? Regards, Jeffrey Barendse