Hi List. I've recently tried to re-install a couple of programs that I had un-installed some months ago. Unfortunately I cannot re-install them. Both of the programs are searchable databases on CD. One is the Bertram Merrell Marriage index of Cheshire and the otherone is the British Vital Record Index. I run Windows ME.
It was suggested that I may have inadvertantly deleted a Systems File. Is it possible to repair Windows ME without having to re-install ME?

Usually the best way to repair Windows is to reinstall it.  If you are installing to the same directory as the old Windows (in other words, doing an update and not a new install), it will keep all of your settings but fix whatever problem you had.  I am pretty sure that this applies to WinME too.
If you have our WinRescue ME program, you can back up the registry before you reinstall WinME and then if you lose all of your settings, you can restore them by restoring to your backup.

I've done what Ray says successfully several times, because ME manages to act funny enough times and mess things up so that it is necessary. It loses files, without telling you. It messes up the keyboard every so often so that when I type a letter it shows as a number or something else, necessitating a reboot to work again. It also crashes a lot, which is probably not good for our operating systems. However,  even tho I reinstall ME, my System Restore never has worked, so this is why I need to reinstall ME so often. I really think the problems stem from ME, because I run two anti-virus programs, ZoneAlarm, portal protection and spyware software, so I don't think it is because I let a hacker in. I'm just barely above a novice, so I probably don't know the real answer to this.

Thanks for the advice. I have ordered Winrescue ME. However, I will be carrying out the re-install with great fear! I'm not very techi-minded and hope I will not make a mess of things. I'd hate to have to set everything up again after installing and dread losing some of the programs I have installed on my PC. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Alan.

not too long ago,I had a WinMe pc , after I updated it, I din't have much trouble with it ,one thing I like about WinMe is how easy you can fix it if you have the recovery cd,[I never had the original OS CD] if you have the recovery cd,it gives you about three options: recover without loosing your settings,recover and you [might] need to reinstal some programs and the last option which would errase your whole hard drive and reinstal windows and then you will have to reinstall all 3rd party software. it is easy you just place your recovery cd in the cd rom(not in your RWcd) and restart your pc, then follow the instructions and choose an option. I now have WinXp and it's more troublesome to recover or reinstall.  
                                                                                     mrobto

   I don't know what mrobto is talking about.  I doubt that it is a WinME CD.  He is probably talking about the recovery CDs that come with a computer.  Some computers come with recovery CDs and some don't.  Recovery CDs can differ in many ways depending on the brand name of your computer and when you purchased it, but most simply erase your entire drive and start over.  It is usually not a desired option.
   Since smallchx confirms that it can be done (it has been many years since I had WinME and so I didn't remember if it could be done or not), I would say to go ahead and reinstall WinME.  Just make sure that you are installing it to the same directory as where it was before (if it gives you that option).  If it gives you the option of Update or New Installation, choose Update.