Apache2Triad time out errors

I've downloaded and installed the latest build of Apache2Triad for the purposes of building a Drupal v6 copy of my site, as outlined in David Mercer's Drupal 6 book. However, after getting some of these modules add in, it is 'timing out' and having some other problems. When I bring up the control panel for Apache2Triad, this is confirmed by errors in the server log, such as"Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded..."

In my searches around here on how to resolve this problem, I had noticed how many had recommended setting up a php.ini file in the root directory of Drupal with things like this in there:

max_execution_time = "time in seconds"
memory_limit = "size in MB"

I tried this with these settings:
max_execution_time = "300"
memory_limit = "25"

And then reset my machine (so as to ensure the Apache install and so forth was restarted). Being a novice to this WAMPP, I'm not sure if this is the best approach to use. Nor could I find anything on this particular topic here or over on Apache2Triad's support forum. (Been doing searches over there, honest!)

I'm already 'sold' on Apache2Triad as a WAMPP over XAMPP, which I've used for so many years as I can setup Drupal for Clean URL's right from the start! But, as I've never really setup an Apache web server myself, I'm at a bit of a loss here. (Guess I'm going to have to find a book on THAT topic now!) Ideas on how to resolve this? Thanks!