session.save_path problem

[SXC]

hi guys

[b]Firstly (and briefly):[/b]

I am very new to PHP, MySQL and Apache (2 days new) so I may sound very dumb at times and need things explained to me in 'idiot proof' however please do bare with me because I realy do want to get to grips with this.

[b]ok, heres my problem:[/b]

I have downloaded apache, MySQL, PHP and a tool to see the MySQL databases in a GUI, and have also found a PHP News utility which I am trying to get up and running, however having successfully installed it, whenever I log on it takes me back to the logon page.

I looked in my Apache log and have found plenty of errors (all appearing simmultaneously, time wise) however each error knuckles down to the following:

[Tue Dec 19 14:22:41 2006] [error] [client 81.86.100.9] PHP Warning:  Unknown: Failed to write session data (files). Please verify that the current setting of session.save_path is correct (E:\\DOCUME~1\\Steve\\LOCALS~1\\Temp\\php\\upload) in Unknown on line 0, referer: http://81.86.100.9/news/1.3.0/upload/index.php

I have been looking around quite franticly trying to remedy this. I have made sure I have all the extensions for PHP, have reconfigured SQL (although I now know its a PHP error, god knows how i know that but thats what all the signs boil down to), reinstalled apache.... to be quite honest now im starting to doubt I have any idea what i'm doing.

I have looked around and DID find this from phpfreaks:

http://www.phpfreaks.com/forums/index.php/topic,118580.msg484668.html#msg484668

This looks like it could be the answer to all my problems, however now is where im gonna sound like a real dip. The resolution is to change the session.start_path from a readable location to a writable location. The problem poster stated he done this using IIS, however i'm using apache and cannot find a way to do this. I am using windows and (as embarrasing as this could sound) I have created a folder and changed my php.ini file to point session.start_path to E:\PROGRA~1\Apache~1\Apache~1\htdocs\phpwrite and have gone into the windows propperties for the folder and have unticked 'read only'.

I had a feeling this wouldnt work, however now im absolutely stuck on what to do next and was hoping someone would be able to help me remedy this.

Thanks in advance.