(I had originally posted this in programming... might have placed it in the wrong forum, so I'll try here)

Hi!
I attempted to install php 5.2 following the wiki guidelines because I need the JSON extension. I followed the instructions (or so I thought) but according to phpinfo, I'm running version 5.1.2.
From what I can guess, whatever needs to be "told" to look for the php install isn't looking in the right place (right to me, anyway).
This may be an Ubernoobie question, but should the php files be in a www (for lack of a better term) directory? right now, it's in
/home/.zac/username/php5
while my site path is
/home/.zac/username/mydomain.com/
and the ini file is in
/home/.zac/username/mydomain.com/cgi-bin/php.ini
is there a specific section of my php.ini that I need to change? Is there something I need to change in .htaccess (I used the default .htaccess from the wiki, but it didn't change the install).
I've hunted 'round the 'net trying to find the answer to this, but to no avail, and I'm really trying to understand/learn. Please help!
Thanks-- Andrea