Unistalled Zone Alarm but still cant log on to hotmail.com

The rest of your story should include "I cleaned up with ad-aware and spybot and now I can't surf but the modem icon shows connection", which is why you uninstalled everything.
Some spys that get cleaned have altered your DUN [dial-up-networking registry entry] and won't allow a simple uninstall-reinstall of DUN, especially if you don't have your w98 install CD or the cab files in windows>options>cabs. New.net is one bad one among others. Go to your friend's PC and search-download "iefix", which reinstalls for you with different default registry entries.
This has become a common problem.
There's another one "Lspfix" for another type.

Try this.

Look up IEFIX on google.com and use it.

Then supply the content of your HOSTS file if IEFIX doesn't cure it. The IE settings must be at their defaults.

Bob

Try using winsockfix.exe
Unfortunately you'll have to download it so you'll need a freind with a pc/intenet and it fits on a floppy. You'll find it using Google