|[...]These are donated computers that are going into a classroom[...]
| Mark

IMO you would have to be a fool to deploy an OS into a shared environment
where just anybody CAN GAIN ROOT ACCESS.
Win9x is totally unsuitable for the mission IMO.
(The *Internet* is just fine; it's the USERS you have to worry about.)

The SMART thing to do is to deploy Linux.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Edubuntu
You can put it on every machine you have for zero cost.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Edubuntu+ShipIt

If you won't follow my BEST advice (now, how do I know that?)
and you insist on sticking with Win9x, learn how to use POLEDIT. 
cache of http://www.zisman.ca/poledit 
cache of http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win98/reskit/part2/wrkc08.mspx


Your alternatives to the SMART option and the kinda-smart option are:

1) If the machines are absolutely identical (hah!),
make an image of one of the drives after everything is installed
and **before** ever putting it into service,
then secure that backup drive/CD under lock and key.
You will be using it to UN-CRAP *every* machine weekly.
http://www.google.com/search?q=teacher+40-years+Windows+pop-up

2) Since even machines that are delivered to companies as "identical"
are NOT IDENTICAL, make an image of **each** machine .
Again: Store under lock & key.
Again: You will be using it weekly.

3) Blow yet more money on something like Deep Freeze.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Faronics+Deep.Freeze

...Oh, and if you deploy payware (Microsoft, Computer Associates, Symantec...),
be prepared to be slapped with fines for EACH piece of payware deployed
on EACH machine for which you don't have a valid licence. 
cache of http://www.getopenoffice.org/ernieball.html
++$65,000++$35,000
(Linux, Firefox, OpenOffice, Inkscape, etc. start to look really good, really fast.)

If you don't seriously weigh your options and learn some new tricks,
you will very soon look like a monkey.

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