DOS programs under Windows 98SE

I am currently running 9 DOS based software programs (6
drawing and 3 computer game programs) under Windows 98SE.
All of these programs were installed months ago and were
running very well under the 32 bit program. Now, something
apparently must have happened to Windows or the DOS
portion. I can make the drawings and changes in the games,
but none of these programs will not allow me to save any
of the changes. I have reinstalled Windows 98SE again. I
dare not delete and then reinstall Windows 98SE completely
because I may lose some folders, files or settings that I
have. I tried reinstalling Windows that way years ago and
it proved to be quite a disaster!

Thank you for any help.