Unable to increase max_input_vars

[ackuhnz]

WordPress version 4.7

PHP version 5.3.6

Windows hosting, no cPanel

I'm trying to increase the max_input_vars to 3000. I've tried several solutions but none yet work:

I've created a php5.ini file in the root folder with the following:

file_uploads = On
post_max_size = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 256M
memory_limit = 256M
max_input_vars = 3000
suhosin.post.max_vars = 3000
suhosin.request.max_vars = 3000

The results show up in my phpinfo and in my WordPress settings except for the last 3 commands. max_input_vars isn't even listed in the phpinfo and on WordPress reads "! *RECOMMENDED 2000".

I tried making a .user.ini file with the following:

max_input_vars = 3000

No effect. I've recycled my app pool and still no effect.

Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Anthony

[ackuhnz]

After talking with GoDaddy support, I learned this PHP configuration doesn't work on Windows servers so I switched to Linux.