AWE64's gameport should have a different name in Device Manager which is "Creative Gameport Joystick". I suggest uninstalling the drivers (both gameports and sound card) in Safe Mode prior reinstallation.

Eimer wrote on 2023-05-21, 21:06:

update:
I tried uninstalling the driver and the devices but it keeps looking for the creative driver disk, I'm unable to reinstall the windows 98 drivers.

It is actually asking where the driver for the AWE64 sound card is located which also contains the necessary driver for the gameport it has. The message about the "Creative driver disk" isn't helpful and can happen with drivers from other brands.

yea I found my issue isn't hte driver, it actually has something to do with the motherboard failing to update ESCD and mixing up IRQs..
apparently the bios flash chip was changed to a different unsupported chip I'm asking the seller about it but he said he has no clue...

Just in case, you can also have a look at the installation CD for my AWE64 (model number CT4380): https://1drv.ms/f/s!ApmeVYI0PZURhCPYgYkUGmwSS0wZ?e=4CrtSD
Take note that Creative did release updated drivers subsequent to the original installation CD being released (located in the AWE64 Updates folder).

What motherboard do you have?
Some motherboards had a jumper on the motherboard to "write protect" the BIOS ROM chip. If it is write protected, then it can't updated the ESCD settings. Try jumpering it (temporarily) to not prevent writing to the BIOS ROM and see if you can then successfully update the ESCD.

jesolo wrote on 2023-05-24, 21:10:

What motherboard do you have?
Some motherboards had a jumper on the motherboard to "write protect" the BIOS ROM chip. If it is write protected, then it can't updated the ESCD settings. Try jumpering it (temporarily) to not prevent writing to the BIOS ROM and see if you can then successfully update the ESCD.

its a Soyo 5BT5 rev 1.1 but the bios chip has been replaced at one point, there is no write protect as I flashed a bios already.
seems the previous owner went for a 256KB chip instead of the original 128 which messes with the ESCD flash not working.
I don't know which chip is designed for this board and I don't have the equipment to flash it. but since everything else works except for reboot bluescreens, I'm gonna leave it as is for now...