I want to add a pci sound card to my Biostar M7VIZ, it has that cra**y Cmedia AC'97 onboard chip. What are the procedures for disabling the onboard sound? I can't record anything from my mic with the AC97. THanks!!!

If your only complaint is that you cannot record anything from the mic, then I would look into the setting some more (if your motherboard has a mic input, it should work). Often these devices may be muted, disable, or not even have the drivers installed. Even though your onboard audio (or a sound card) seems to be one piece of equipment, it is actually several, and some may be installed right (driver wise) and others may not, and sound still works. there also may be options to enable/disable/mute portions of the hardware. Go into control pannel and find your sound device, then check to see if anything is muted or disabled. Go into your bios, and make sure that all onboard audio is enabled (usally it is just one option).
If you really just want to get a sound card (not trying to talk you out of it, sometimes it can make a big diffrence if you have nice speakers though not all onboard sound is crap), there should be an option in the bios to disable the onboard audio (that actually often says enabel/disable ac97 audio). Changing that setting should not hurt anything but be carfull about changing anything else unless you know what you are doing. Then just install the sound card, when the computer starts, follow the instructions that came with the sound card.

I have the latest drivers & tried everything in ctrl panel sound devices, nothing is mute, & mic is selected to record. I'm gonna get a SB Live. Thanks, I'll go into the BIOS & disable it!!!