BUS ports missing?

I'm having a problem and I went through everthing I know, so maybe someone else can help me out here.

Just recently my BUS ports stopped working. I have had this happen before, but it was after I had installed a new motherboard so I simply had to reload them. But this time they don't even seem to exist. I went under control panel, system, and then to the device manager and my ports are even npt shown. I operate on windows98SE and I do share the computer with 3 other people. Is it possible that it could have been deleted and if so can I reinstall or am I screwed?

Maybe I am jumping ahead of myself, but if anyone knows of anything I can try, I'd be glad to go for it. Thanks!