file writing not allowed PHP4

[Anon]

I have just transfered my php and mysql site over to a friend who can
provide me with free hosting. He has php4 and mysql all set up to run on
apache and everything works a treat. Except file commands. I get
permission denied when i try to unlink or copy files. After hours of
scouring round looking at books and sites i have come to the assumption
that it is something to do with the process that php is running as or
something like that. Basically php does not seem to be allowed to
perform file writes etc under apache.
I am sure someone here must have had this problem or know the simple
answer to it? Is it a simple php or apache setup issue that can be
resolved with a one line ini change? i hope so ):

Best regards and thanks in advance for your time and answers.
Alan

[Anon]

PHP runs unser the user that apache runs under.
usually user www.

This user should be quite restricted in access rights, as apache is available to the grand public.

Make sure the few files and directories that you do let php write are owned by the apache-user.
Do not let php read/write from/to files that have access rights like 777 because that is quite dangerous.