EP-KTA2 + MS Sidewinder Gamepad/gameport problem...

[MikeC]

I recently put together a new pc (see specs below) and I'm having a strange problem with my old Microsoft Sidewinder gamepad (the first version, gameport version). It seems to cut-out/disconnect every few minutes while in a game. AND, if I go to the "game controllers" control panel, it has added multiple sidewinders to the list! I can remove them, but it keeps adding them!? What's going on here?

Thanks

MY SYSTEM
mb EPoX EP-KTA2 (1agp4x 6pci 1isa ata100)
cpu AMD 800MHz Athlon (Thunderbird)
ram 256MB (2x128 PC133)
vid 3dfx Banshee 16MB (Temp until I get my radeon 32MB DDR)
cd Generic 32x CDROM (temp)
dis Viewsonic A90 19"