The easiest way to disable teh soudn portion is to go ahead and install the card as is. After Win9x boots up, go into Control Panel, System, and then Device Manager. Disable all the sound function...
Well, technically, there ARE Linux drivers for you my friend. Note, these are reference drivers straight from Aureal, btu they might just make you happy enough to pee your pants.
There are indeed two different versions. If you paid for the 100Mhz version, and got the 66Mhz, you need to take it back. Take the email from AMD with you.
OKay, I hate to say it, but it is time to either shoot the GW2K, or give it to some needy kids. I have been replacing them for a number of people recently. The best you can beat out of it is 133MHz...
Try your old drive in antoher system. If it is identified and works correctly there, then the IDE controller on you new MB is having a problem. If it does not work in another system, then your old...
Try a different sound card. Borrow one from a buddy and see how it goes wiht that one. It could be that the one you purchased is bad or is having compatibility problems.
I hate to say it, but the problem may not be with your drivers. It may lie in your CPU speed. Perhaps it can no longer keep up with the faster applications.