> My system is fine, as was the last before it using this program. I've had
> various OS's (98, 98se and XP), tried many different CDROM drives and now even
> my DVD drive. The CD for me has always either skipped, had no audio, or for a
> long period just would give a read error not wanting to even see a CD in the
> drive.

No offense, VHD, but that sounds like a drive problem. Is this the same drive that you've had all along? Tried cleaning it, or burning a fresh copy of that CD? Tried swapping drives, in case the firmware isn't exactly "MagicEngine compliant"?

> So in that respect it is improving. And this is NOT an old DOS machine,
> I could run DOSBOX I suppose, but it's XP Pro on here now. As for USB pads,
> tried it with the gravis gamepad pro, n64 w/adaptoid hookup, gravis eliminator,
> ms sidewinder. Always has been touchy.

What system chipset/USB host chipset? I'm almost willing to bet it's Via. Have you had any problems with USB controllers in other games/emus/etc.?