FWIW, I don’t know if you can remove IE5, but it can be “de-integrated” from W98. I do NOT recommend it. It is a complete and total disaster/crashfest.
It can be done though.
Yeah, you can take it out with Winlite. I think.
Or you could try run:SFC
It checks your system files for ya.
I got here by coming to the Public Library and using their computer which has internet access.
lindsay
Dear Quadell:
It seems AOL has caused many problems, as they now have a class action lawsuit against them.
My HOME computer was fine till I tried their dratted Free trial disk, and when I Uninstalled it, well, no more Internet or anything for me, which is why I am now at my library checking my e-mail.
And of course, waiting for my male friend to fix my computer.
lindsay
Lindsay, it’s quite possible that your computer is screwed up by AOL, and that you will need your friend to help you get it all working again. But I somehow doubt it. Did you get any errors or weird messages when you were uninstalling AOL? If you did, then maybe something is messed up. Or - who knows about AOL. It is the work of the Devil, maybe it just screwed up your PC for the hell of it. But - I think you really owe it to yourself to try a few things first.
First, copy down this number - 1-800-719-4664. It’s the number for Earthlink, another ISP. (If you already have a new ISP, call their 800 number instead.) I suggest EarthLink only because they ought to give you a free month, (make sure to tell them that you just left AOL.) Also, I have called EarthLink’s tech support many times, they’ve always been great with me. Anyway, tell them you want to sign up right away, and that you want to talk to one of their technical guys right right after you’ve signed up, to have them talk you through setting up the Internet. (Bear in mind that you can dump EarthLink after the free month is up - this is just a quick fix so you can get online.)
Tell the tech guy/gal your problem, everything. My guess is that they will talk you through (step by step) setting up Dial-Up Networking. This will get your computer to connect to the internet. No big deal to set up, they talked me through it once, when I called them in a panic because I had “lost” the internet. (Coincidentally, right after a nightmarish attempt to install and uninstall AOL software.) They can talk you through that easily. Also, like I keep on saying, you have a browser. It’s just “hidden”, but it’s there - just open up the My Documents folder, and use it like it’s Internet Explorer, because it will work just like it. (This may not be so if you still have Win 95, though - you can ask the tech guy/gal.) Anyway, the EarthLink tech guys will talk you through the whole thing, very patiently.
I’m not trying to be an “ad” for EarthLink, it’s just now that Mindspring has merged with it, I can’t recommend Mindspring! 
And I don’t think ATT Worldnet will be able to talk you through Dial-Up Networking like with EarthLink - they have some other way of setting up the internet.