Well sadly the only other OS I own is Win 98 (the original Win 98, NOT second edition), and theres just too much newer software thats not able to work with it (ie, media player 9), and sadly I don't have hundreds of dollars to go out and spend on a new OS.

So, if anyone can please tell me what this is (other than ME), it'd be great, because I'm stuck with it.

I don't think its simply because its ME though because it didn't do this for along time.

Ohh and about booting in safe mode - do I do anything in particular once I'm in safemode? Because I've booted it in safe mode numerous times since it started happening and it still persist to happen every day.