Superdrive Controller Problem

[jp1@aol.com (JP1)]

Recently got a Superdrive and the companion A2 controller card for my venerable
GS.  The eventual use intended is with the PCTransporter, but a basic problem
has arisen immediately.

With the controller card in Slot 5 and that slot set to "Your Card" in the
Control Panel, all boot attempts yield screen tracking of the controller card's
self-test (in 40-col text), with all tests passing and "Press E to exit"
prompt.  Pressing E causes a restart (expected), but the self-test runs again. 
I.e., I can't boot the system with the controller card installed, even though
the "report" from the self-test is that the card passes.  (Have installed the
driver/s to the HD boot volume from the included utils disk, by starting w/ the
card installed.)  FWIW, the self-test also runs when Slot 5 is set as "Smart
Port.")

When a functioning controller card is installed, is it normal to see the
self-test on every startup?

Does the run of the self-test on every sratup indicate a bad card?  (This one
was a sealed one, in the roiginal ACI packaging.)  The fine manual doesn't
appear to mention the self-test at all.

Any words of wisdom?

TIA for any guidance.

John P.