SoundBlaster AWE64 ISAPNP on etch

Cannot get sound up and running on etch. I know there are a million+ posts on the new regarding sound on linux. I have tried to do my homework by searching the debian list archives, googling, and I have also read the following HOWTO's: linux sound HOWTO AWE 32/64 HOWTO I've learned a lot,

RE: Adaptec 1540CF (aha1542) not detected

Well, think I may have a handle (vaguely) on the problem (though no solution yet): However, the installer cannot detect my SCSI CDROM. I try to choose it manually, but no such device seems to be listed in /dev (looking for /dev/sr0 or some such) I have tried the boot option:

Adaptec 1540CF (aha1542) not detected

greetings... :) I am trying to install etch RC1 on a old machine with an Adaptec aha1540CF ISA SCSI card, but cannot seem to get debian to detect the controller. My system: ASUS P2-99 with 433MHz Intel 256MB ram AGP 4MB vid card 1 - 40 GB IDE HDD Adaptec 1540CF with SCSI CDROM attached. I

stable 3.1 (sarge) or testing 4.0 (etch) for a new user?

I am a soon-to-be new user of Debian. I have been using other (particularly live) distros for a while to learn linux, but I very much want to move to Debian. In any case, with a new major release (etch - 4.0) coming out soon, I am wondering which release to use right now... the testing