These are running at startup and not needed
conf.exe is a process belonging to Microsoft Netmeeting and allows for the configuration and initialization of this Internet chat facility. This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling this is down to user preference.
HPZSTATX.EXE Nightmarish Printer Status Monitor task which is installed by the setup program of many HP DeskJet printers when installing on a Windows 9x/ME PC. HPZSTATX does not get installed if you install your printer via the "Add Printer" icon in the Printers Panel – it only gets installed if you run the HP setup program. Everything that HPZSTATX does, it does badly : it uses too many system resources, and, worse, it frequently "hangs" the printing of documents with, in most cases, only a reboot solving the problem.
AOLHOSTMANAGER.EXE Located in Program Files\Common Files\AOL folder. What does it do, and is it required? No one seems to know
KB891711.EXE can be taken out of startup also. Click Start>Run type in msconfig. Click Startup tab and take out check.
Another thing slowing your system down is Norton, huge resource hog. And 98 does not release its resources. Sometimes a reboot is in order.