Display Problem in XP Home

My display started up with a grayish boxy look to it and I can’t seem to get it back to normal. (I have attached a screen shot). One example is the start button. Instead of being green with rounded corners it is grey with square corners. Web pages, the desktop and programs display fine, the problem is in the windows components. I have re installed the latest display adapter to no avail. Has any one seen this before?

PS : My work computer (Dell with XP Pro) does this on occasion but a simple re-start brings everything back to normal.

My computer specs are below. Thanks.



Specifications CPU: Intel® Celeron® D 330 Processor
Operates at 2.66 GHz
256KB L2 cache & 533 MHz FSB Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition 1 Chipset: Intel 845GV Chipset Memory: 256 MB DDR (PC 2700)
Expandable to 2 GB Hard Drive: 60 GB HDD 2 Optical Drives: 48x Max. CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive Media Reader: 8-in-1 Digital Media Manager (USB 2.0, Secure Digital (SD), Smart Media, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Micro Drive, Multimedia Card) Video: Intel® Extreme Graphics 3D
64MB Shared Memory Sound: AC '97 Audio Modem: 56K ITU v.92 ready Fax/Modem Network: Intel PRO 10/100 Mbps built-in Ethernet Peripherals: Standard Multimedia Keyboard, 2-Button Wheel Mouse, Amplified Stereo Speakers Dimensions: 7.25"w x 14.125"h x 16"d Internet: AOL Membership Included (Additional phone charges may apply. Click here for details.) Ports/Other: 5 USB 2.0 ports (1 in Media Manager; 4 in back), 1 Serial, 1 Parallel, 2 PS/2, Audio-In & Out Pre-Installed Software: Microsoft Works 7.0 1, Microsoft Money 2004, Encarta Online, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™, Microsoft Media Player, Real Player, PowerDVD, Internet Explorer, CompuServe®, Norton AntiVirus 2004 (90 day complimentary subscription), BigFix®

 

I guess my file was to big so here is a link.

http://webpages.charter.net/zigmeister/Web%20Pics/MajorGeeks/Desktop.bmp

 

Sorry Zig but I couldn't see anything wrong with that picture other than the fact that you had some (or possibly all) the visual effects in XP turned off so it kinda looks like the previous versions (this is how I have mine too, after all, those visualization effects do take away from the overall system performance).
But anyhow, right-click on My Computer icon (it is in the START menu if you are using the XP style Start menu), then click on Properties > Advanced > Settings button under Performance and on the Visual Effects tab check the settings....if I am off base, provide more info please.

 

did you get your display figured out, i agree just looks like all the new effects are not active making it look the older programs, hey i also got a question since i am new to this site what do i do to post a question

 

Well, I am a newbie too but I'd suggest you use the 'Forum Jump' to select a sub-category under a main section then you will see the 'New Thread' button up on top.

 

I checked and the box named Let windows choose what's best for my computer is marked. In the box below all the check boxes are checked. Does this sound right?

 

I'd never let Windows decide on anything. Whether it is Visual Effects of Paging File, so my suggestion would be to set it to either 'Best Performance' or 'Best Appearance' or (if you know what you want) choose 'Custom' (like mine which I like "show window contents while dragging', "smooth edges of screen fonts", "smooth scroll list boxes" selected, also if you like the new XP look choose the bottom option "use visual styles on windows and buttons" which makes Windows look the fancier, more animated way.