This problem comes up repeatedly. So I thought I would create a post just for this problem.

If you have Internet Explorer4 or IE5 installed YOU CAN NOT REINSTALL WIN95 until you uninstall IE4&5.

Trust me! You will deeply regret it if you fail to follow this advice.

When IE4&5 are installed they replace and modify part of the operating system. If you try to reinstall Win95 you will corrupt those modifications and then you will have one BIG HEADACHE.

Here are some references from the Microsoft Knowledgebase-

Reinstalling Windows 95 with Internet Explorer 4 or above
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q174/5/49.asp

Uninstalling Internet Explorer is Missing
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q172/9/19.asp

Removing Internet Explorer from Win95 using IEremove.exe
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q166/3/13.asp

How to Manually Uninstall Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q175/6/10.asp

How to Uninstall Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q174/2/65.asp

Also, remember the program 98Lite.exe for Win98 which can separate Internet Explorer from the Desktop and speed up Win98. It's freeware.