I've recently replaced my P4 for a newer Dell Dimension running at
3ghz. Unfortunately, the gameport is out of the picture emtirely,
which mucks up the controller set-up I used in my last system.

Previously, using the gameport, I had a Thrustmaster WCS/FCS, and
(though they said it couldn't be done) CH gameport pedals (not the pro
pedals). I recently "won" a dual connector gameport-to-USB, but
hooking it up proved a dissappointment: after hooking one of the pedals
into one of the connectors, and putting the throttle into the other
connector (with the joystick going into the throttle), I was able to
get little more than one of the fire buttons and joystick movement.
Throttle buttons (because the WCS has a KB pass-through) were
recognized as keyboard punches, but movment of the throttle or pedals
was completely ignored. I tried adding the joystick w/throttle set-up
and rudders enabled in the WinXP gamecontroller section, but I kept
getting an error message; also, the USB gamebox comes up on winxp
control panel, but it won't be edited or removed unless in the device
manager.

Am I doing something wrong with this setup, or should I just junk it?

I figure I'd save myself trouble by just getting a new gameport, but
nobody seems to make one - just soundcards with gameports. That option
seems uneccessarily expensive, and also hints at numerous
conflicting-devices headaches. Is there a simple way to add an old
soundcard and disable the sound part while keeping the gameport?