This is something the IT staff at your work wisely configured. They should know what they have done, and be able to undo it.

Giving old computers to employees is a nice gesture, but they should be made free of restrictions like this. Also ask them to put a copy of the cab-files on the hard disk (if their Microsoft license allows so, or maybe even if it doesn't); you need them when installing new hardware. I don't assume they gave you the whole original Windows 98 CD.

Kees