Windows 98 - help please

[Don Quixote]

I have inadvertently deleted some files on my PC which now prevents me from setting my desktop wallpaper and a few other things.  When I attempt to set the wallpaper I get a message "Internet Explorer - The wallpaper you selected can be shown on the desktop only if Active Desktop is enabled.  Do you want to enable it?" When I click on 'Yes' I get an error message "Desktop - Internet Explorer cannot find the Active Desktop HTML file. This file is needed for your Active Desktop.  To turn off the Active Desktop, click OK".
Also, my Quick Launch toolbar section is missing from my Toolbar and if I try to enable it I get an error message "Toolbar - cannot create toolbar".
What do I need to do to rectify all this?

[PatTheRat]

windows xp can recover deleted or missing files by doing this: open my computer, right click on your hard drive, click properties, click tools, click check now, and tick the boxes u see. I have never used 98, but something similar may be available if u do the same thing.

[Don Quixote]

Thanks Pat, that would be fine if the files weren't already long gone; and Windows 98 doesn't quite have the same facility as XP seems to have.  Other suggestions welcome!

[alunrw]

Here's a link that "may" be able to help - looks like you might need to reinstall Internet explorer?

http://www.compudoc.ca/archive/o_t__t_27__cannot-create- toolbar.html

Alternatively, are you able to reinstall Windows 98 over itself - , when I had windows 98, this solved quite a few niggly problems, up until the time I totally reformatted the disc.