NicColt,
Just a word of warning. I have had in the past various virus problems that destroyed some of the files and sometimes would get a requester telling me i'm missing a file with a .dll, I would search my copmuter and find it and then, I would think it was corupt so I would copy it from my other computer, but the same requester would appear.
Another win98 querk was defraging in 2 ways:
1 if I did not close all the files in the botom extrem right of my task bar the defrag would hang up after starting and working a bit, then would do 2% and start from the beginning. So I had to close all the files I could from my bottom right task bar and retry windows defrag. Then I had many problems show up. so I tryed to reinstal win98. Now the computer was reporting it cannot read the CD. so I changed CD roms still the same. so I went and borrowed another CD win98 same problem.
2. I Installed Norton Utilities 4.0 and defragged the drive. Then that let me have the CDRom recognize and reinstall win98. and all seemed well. Then I noticed my networking from this computer was incredibly slow but other computers on the Lan could get files from me quite fast. I switched networking cables no change. I put another computer in that spot and it worked fine. I am about to Do clean reformat and reinstall.
So my computer works fine in everyway but is 100 times slower to start downloading on Lan. well it must be doing something to search files and spin in circles a long time b4 doing the download. posibly because of the failed defrag that may have caused a cancer.
I wrote the above to get u looking for unusual problems or do a full backup and reinstall windows. then if it works, gradualy sestore one program at a time, and finally save the registry files to a different partition or drive and restore the old registry. you may be able to discover what your problem was, and satisfy your pit bull like problem comfronting mechanisms u have so tenatiously trained in yourself.
I beleive your problem is uncommon and will not be found in the usual way, else you would have discovered it by now. I do hope the file from rbV5 works 4 u but juuuuuuuuuuuuuust incase it does not have heart and try the above considerations.

) Crossing Fingers 4 u
rbV5 what program installed vfwwdm32.dll file ?
PS I also had removed and installed a spare same brand and model networking card with no changes

just in case u thought I missed that possibilitry.