I would like to re-install ME, but I do not want to write over my existing origrams and files. In other words I want to just reinstall ME. If I run setup fron the C:\windows\options\cabs folder, will it just overide the ME files or everything else also? Thank you for your help.

By running setup and reinstalling or repairing ME you should retain your original programs and settings OK, but nothing is ever foolproof in an installation so if you have any way of backing up the whole thing to CDR or of making a drive copy using Ghost or similar, you would be well advised to do it. By the way, why do you want to reinstall? What problems are you having? Many problems can be solved if you try these suggestions http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/14062.html

Thank you for your response and your suggestions. The reason I want to reinstall ME is because for some reason I cannot use the Windows Setup or Create Startup disk in the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. When I click on Windows Setup, I see all the components installed. However I cannot make any changes and the size of the components all say 0.0mb. I have tried some of the other remedies posted on this forum as well as MS Knowledge Base. Nothing seems to work. So, I feel that all I'm left with is to reinstall. I have also entertained the idea of upgrading to XP but I'm afraid of the problem continuing after the upgrade.

You're probably right to reinstall.

I have just been through this issue with respect to creating a startup disk. The solution was to tell ME to look in Windows\cabs for the correct files. Before you try to reinstall ME look at the readme file (22 pages). It is full of information on all the things that could go wrong. It lead me to try everything else first!