If it's possible, you should really get Windows 2000. It's the only MS OS that Linux users preffer out of all of MS's OS's. It's a shit load more stable the 98, it no longer has System Resources, does away with VDX files for the most part, and works like a real OS.
If you are stuck with 98, how many drivers did you install? Last time I installed 98, it installed 7 drivers, and rebooted twice. I would reinstall 98 again, and this time be very gentle with 98. Only install 1 thing at a time, tread lightly, reboot, then install the next thing.
Seriously, get 2K.