It's possible that your explorer is corrupted. The best and easiest way to fix it is to do a "Windows Refresh". You simply install WIndows without reformatting the drive and it should restore all your settings without losing your files. it will ask you if you want to save your system files click "yes"

Thanks for your help - but how do I do a "Windows Refresh" is it by using the installation disk that came with the computer? If so, I have done this but it didn't fix, however, I have noticed that I can get the control panel files off the start menu - settings - control panel - then there is another menu with the items listed! Perhaps this is how Windows ME is set up - I don't know. If all else fails I can at least access the settings this way.
P.S. when you say 'explorer' - do you mean 'windows explorer'?
Cheers.