Reply with answers ...
1) Yes, vanilla Win98 is what you get when Win98 installs
2) Don't know about your system, but my Dell came with a separate (blue coloured) system CD containing the drivers for my hardware. I install this stuff after installing Win98 from CD. It's required to unleash the full potential of my modem, video, audio, DVD, etc.
3) The rest you have on CDs, and can be re-installed. Making an image of this stuff will secure the work you invested into installation and configuration. When things go wrong, it can be difficult to determine which Win98 tentacle holds the key. An image can restore things quicker than locating the trouble, determining the appropriate solution, and applying the repair.
The 'ton of crap' on your system isn't unusual.
System rebuild: This is what worries me the most. I don't have much confidence that you have ALL the software available for your rebuild. I've never heard of any Win98 systems NOT coming with drivers and utilities beyond what Win98 provides. These could have been loaded on your disk at the factory and the CDs omitted. Contact your manufacturer about this. Above all, DON'T wipe your disk until you're sure you can replace what's on it. A system full of crap beats a system short of necessities.
Cheers, PW.
P.S. I graduated from UWO (computer science) in 1986. I didn't enjoy my time there, unlike many in my class who had the experience of their lives.
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