reformat nightmare

Help...After formatting drive C have had SOOOO many problems reinstalling wins '98.
Windows cannot find my modem: I seem to have only 1 com port.previously, modem was on com 2!! Cant find the com port box. Wins can't find or install some drivers, and cannot find modem. Also got a corrupt file message. Going spare here. what seemed a straightforward format and reinstall has become a nightmare. I have an iPatriot computer and have been having problems with colour settings ( can't change them ) and system recently kept going into safe mode which I could not fix.I don't have my system restore disk .I am in a right quandry and ready for the funny farm. PS Also, the yellow warning wotsits are on communications and modem.
Can anyone advise....pleeeeeeeees ???
daisy

 

It sounds to me like you need to install a bunch of drivers. Video card and modem in particular. Chances are you need your chipset drivers as well.

Go here and get Aida32. http://majorgeeks.com/download181.html

It will tell you what hardware you have in your system. Then come back and list the make and model of your motherboard, video card, modem, network card (if you have one), sound card, and anything else that might be in your system.