Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1 blues

Motherboard - <A HREF="http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=313&MODEL=MS-6566E" target="_new">MSI 845E Max (6566E)</A>
<b>Processor, Heatsink and Fan:</b> Celeron 2.2GHz, with Volcano 7+ at medium speed
<b>AGP slot:</b> <A HREF="http://www.gainward.com/c-1.html?id=41" target="_new">Gainward GeForce4 PowerPack! Ultra/650 TV Golden Sample</A>
<b>PCI slot #1</b>: (empty)
<b>PCI slot #2</b>: (empty)
<b>PCI slot #3</b>: <A HREF="http://search.3com.com/search/en_US/query.html?qt=3C905&col=all" target="_new">3Com 3C905-TX</A>
<b>PCI slot #4</b>: <A HREF="http://europe.hercules.com/showpage.php?p=56&b=0&f=1" target="_new">Gamesurround Fortissimo III 7.1</A>
<b>PCI slot #5</b>: (empty)
<b>PCI slot #6</b>: (empty)

<b>The problem:</b> When playing movies with Windows Media 7 and nothing loaded other than my <A HREF="http://www.ud.com/" target="_new">UD</A> client all appears to be well. As soon as my file-sharing program is running, my problems begin. Sound stammers in plaback of movies and MP3s (MP3's played in Winamp 2.9). When I say stammer, I mean a block of sound repeated approximately 10-20 times a second - this will happen at the worst every 20 seconds!

My internet connection (1024/256 currently, but soon downgrading to 512/128) is via a <A HREF="http://www.netgear.com/products/prod_details.asp?prodID=93&view=" target="_new">Netgear RP114 Cable/DSL Web Safe Router</A>. This then connects to my 3Com network card, which is firewalled by my Sygate firewall.

As of yet, I have not yet tried switching PCI devices around.

Running Windows 98, Second Edition.

Hopefully somebody can help me with this problem, which, so far, reveals my waste of money on a sound-card. My main reason for switching from my beloved Aureal 2 PCI soundcard was for the 7.1 sound. This then connects to my Technics hifi.

<b> ====
Basmic</b>

I would prefer <i>not</i> to move anything to PCI Slots #1 or #2 to give my graphic-card some airflow. I may try moving the card to PCI Slot #6 as you suggested, and see what happens!

Right now though, it has been nothing but a pain in the @rse! I'm wondering if it's a problem with WinMX and it's memory-leakage... .

Thanks for you help so far, however!

<font color=orange><b>People don't seem to realise that 2 hours backing up their data is far quicker than redoing all the work!</b></font color=orange>