II Apache2 with Fcgid or FastCGI
Important: When you modify a parameter manually in a php.ini file, you must restart (reload) the Apache2 service.
Reloading has no effect. If there's no instance (php-cgi) in the corresponding user's context running, you have to do nothing The next request is served by a "fresh php-child" that covers your changes.
If there is at least one active instance you have to kill it - or you have to restart apache (which in fact for the cgi-child is the same).