So off I went to a 3DFX web site and got myself these files, glide2x.dll, glide3x.dll and glide2x.ovl. I removed the files: opengl32.dll and opengl32.dll.tmp from the windows system32 folder and kept them in a safe place just in cast I had to restore them. then put glide2x.dll and glide3x.dll in the system32 folder and glide2x.ovl in the windows directory and "HEY PRESTO" all my games work perfectly. but I ask myself "Why does it work"
by the way I'm using WinXP Pro SP2, Saphire Radeon 9550se 128mb, 512mb memory, xp2500 barton all on an Asus A7V8X-X