Here's how, make a directory near the root "/ahelp" for instance, and copy Windows 3.1 WRITE.EXE, 240KB dated 3/10/92 3:10AM, in to there.  Write  will let you look inside of any file, just *do not save it. 
Make a shortcut to it as "Write 2" and put it on your desk top. 
Perhaps you want to get rid of *anything* having to do with a certain program, search inside the suspect for "Copyright".   For instance, you might find the words like "Happy 99" inside that give away the fact that it is a virus. 
Write can read older files such as "Word for Windows 2" etc, which '98 refuses to even load. 

Back to the "View" tab, when it looks right choose the button which says "Like Current Folder".  If not right, you can do it again and again until it takes effect. 
Do not reset all folders, as that will put them back like they were before you fixed them.

The older DOS & Windows 3.1 computer does not use long file names so it is not good for receiving or backing up files from Windows 95/98/00.  But it is easy, and free, to back up the older one onto the new.  Get a Male / Male Parallel (data transfer) cable, and perhaps a switch box, and hook up the printer ports.  If linking more than 3 computers, it is more efficient to go with network cards. 

Then use the Interlink programs, included with DOS 6.0, and 6.2,  as a TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) in each machine to communicate and transfer files.  The two Interlink programs needed consist of 
INTERLNK.EXE 17KB 3/10/93 6:00 AM and 
INTERSVR.EXE 37KB 9/30/93 6:20AM. 
Copy them to the root on both machines.   Edit the "Config.sys(s)" so booting up will load INTERLNK.EXE on both machines.  Command line example: 
DEVICE HIGH=C:\INTERLNK.EXE /LPT:1 /DRIVES:4. 
On the DOS machine, type "help interlnk" or "help intersvr" for help. 

You can "rem" these lines out when done.  Perhaps you only want to load these TSR's once in a while on a Win95/95/00 machine, click here for simplified instructions on making a Boot Menu to use interlink.  

The way you will usually want to transfer/view files is with the newer, faster Win95/98/00 machine.  Here's how, we have the parallel ports connected, and the INTERLNK TSRs loaded on both machines. Then when the DOS computer boots up (and before it starts Windows3.1) type "INTERSVR" at the DOS prompt.  It should show a blue box in the center of the screen where it will assign new drive letters to the drives on that machine. 

When the Windows 95/98 computer starts up and you click in "Explorer.exe" to look at files, voila, you have many more drives to work with from the DOS computer.  Its as if the DOS computer's drives were attached to your new computer.   

(Warning, do not multitask while using interlink, or alter the Win98 files from the Win3.1 computer.  It can corrupt the low level formatting and/or boot sector,  rendering the HD useless.) 

Intersvr is emulating the older computer's hard drive as a floppy. Floppys use FAT 12 and the HD uses FAT 16 and Windows 98 uses FAT32 (converted to 16).  If it gets out of sync because of multitasking, or writing a 32bit file, it will destroy the formatting on the new drive and make it unbootable and unusable until re-formatted. 

Othewise, even with an old parallel port on the DOS computer can transfer files fast enough (about 328kbps) to do a backup while you go watch the news on TV.