I know that the only way for me to upload HQ images to the gallery would be to change the max_input_time, but however I have no idea where to locate it or where it could be. Can anyone help me with this because I've checked the forums and everything else and so far, there's been no help around this area.
Did you check the FAQ?
http://coppermine.sourceforge.net/faq.php#uploadGeneralTroubleshooting
Unless the server is yours to administer, you have to ask your host about directives like max_input_time.
I know all about that. But the problem is, I think my host doesn't know where to do those type of things since she's new to Coppermine as well. We're hosted on Yahoo and I've been looking around forever checking to see where I can set it and whatnot and I'm still lost.
Whether or not a webhost knows Coppermine is irrelevant. I'm not talking about a webmaster, I'm talking about a webhost. The person(s) responsible for all the behind-the-scenes configurations in PHP, Apache, and the OS running the webserver software. The person(s) you contact when you want another option added to your webhosting package, when your website is completely unavailable, when there are techincal issues needing resolution. If your webhost doesn't know what php.ini is, or what the directives mean, you should consider finding a webhost that knows what he/she is doing.
don't bother to contact yahoo, asking them to change php.ini settings for you - they won't. Their servers are set up the way they are for particular reasons. Use FTP-upload plus batch-add instead of http uploads to circumvent time-out issues. In fact, coppermine admins should always use FTP-upload and batch-add.