Microsoft has a CD for the price of shipping, $4.95 I think, which has IE 5 and internet tools and some [maybe, I think] Y2K stuff included. I really like IE5 and the new Outlook is good, too.
If you have Win98 there is an option to put Microsoft Chat on your machine which will enhance any chat room experience. You can find this under start/control panel/install-uninstall software/go to the middle tab for Windows and the go to Communications [little yellow phone]. Highlight communiciations, click details on the bottom right, and MS Chat is about 2/3 of the way down.
If you don't have Win98, you can download it at the Microsoft download site.
Hope this helps.