FYI, if it happens again in the future or you don't wish to reformat that particular HDD, you can remove those directories via the command prompt.

You will have to get the ASCII code for the names of them, I know there are charts out there, and then use those. e.g. use "rd [weirdfoldername]" via holding ALT, and pressing 0+[ascii code here] to name it. If the directories aren't empty, I think you can use the deltree command to get rid of it anyways. Can't remember if w98 has deltree or not.

Anyone can test that, in a command prompt (on 9x/DOS boxes) use MD ALT+0255 to create an "invisible" directory. If you try to open it within windows or any windows based program all you will get is an error and generally a double "path/folder does not exist" error. BUT, if you use CD ALT+0255, you can change to that directory and even store things within it just fine.

Heh... I seem to recall a very old DOS tool called PCTOOLS that was quite handy in situations like that.