I found two ways of permanently removing the unwanted Creative Labs IDE Controller from Windows 9x Device Manager.
The first way I think is the best way -
Method 1) Hardware configuration profile.
a) Create a new hardware configuration profile (using Device Manager)
b) Shut down PC.
c) Power on PC, then choose your new profile to boot up with.
d) Inside Device Manager, remove the IDE Controller entry from your Original Hardware Profile.
e) Shut down PC.
f) Power on PC, then choose your Original Hardware Profile to boot up with.
g) All done - no IDE Controller will exist inside Device Manager.
(I think you can then go ahead and delete your new hardware configuration profile at this stage. However, I always have two hardware configuration profiles present, so I have never deleted my second profile to test this part of the IDE Controller removal procedure.)
Method 2) Windows registry/regedit "hack"
To see this hack, please go to google groups and do a search on this phrase -
CTL0044_DEV0000
You will then see the following topic somewhere in the top list of results -
"Disable IDE in AWE32?"
In this post, there is a fairly simple registry/regedit "hack".
Please note: I have tried both methods outlined above, and both have worked for me, although I feel more comfortable doing the first method.
Best regards, Robert.