To disable an onboard sound card I just need to "disable device" in hardware manager correct? Installing other sound card and just making sure the other is disabled.

To fully disable the onboard sound, you should get into BIOS (usually hitting delete at bootup, but could be F1 or F2 with certain brand names ala compaq, dell etc and they may have a message at the bottom of the screen saying "to enter setup, press xx"). Look for a heading "integrated peripherals" and hit enter. You should find "audio" or "AC97" or something relating to the soundcard, and the setting is probably turned on "auto". The only other option available is usually "disable" so set it to that (usually Page up & Page down keys to change the setting). Save changes and exit BIOS. This will stop BIOS initializing the onboard sound on boot, and it won't even show up in device manager. From here, install your new soundcard... Good luck... If you can't find the Audio or integrated peripherals heading, email me the version of BIOS and I will tell you where to find it...

hello allso you may have a jumper on mobo to set for onboard sound. do the above posters advice as its veary good. but if on board sound is interupting install of sound card after that you will need to fined out make on model of mother board and got there sight and d/l manual and fined jumper and set it.not tomany mobo,s with on board sound have both bios and mobo jumper. i have one that does

Good call wawadave, forgot about the possibility of the jumper on mobo. Oh well, always hard to remember everything...