Windows

This is Microsoft... no there is no option to not install ie or outlook express. The basic Win9x installes will place the ie on the desktop and outlook exp, but you have the option of deleting them from the desktop.

If you clikc on Internet Explorer, after the first install of the os, then you can complete that setup of ie or outlook express. You do not need to complete that setup.... just delete those icons.

If you want to uninstall Outlook Express after you have install Win98, do it from the Control Panel, Add/Remove software. Be warned that if you are going to be using Outlook 2000, you will need to have Express installed. You can also get rid of IEfrom here as well.

You can check out this program here that allows user's to select IE & Outlook as an option in the setup program.
www.98lite.net

Internet Explorer will use some of it's programs/files for other programs such as some CDrom disks that contain commands for IE. Deleting this is not a very good idea, as you will have crashes after crashes. Outlook Express, You can disable from Internet access. Deleting these is asking for trouble.

When you install Win95 or Win98, you can choose not to install Outlook Express by choosing the custom install option during installation.
Tell it you want to select the components you want to install.
However, I know for sure that in Win98, you cannot opt to not install IE for it is an integral part of the OS.
I do not remember on Win95. On "A" versions or below, I think it's installed as default but I do not remember if you could opt out.
On "B" versions or above, I think you probably don't have a choice since on the startup it shows "with Microsoft Internet Explorer"