START button doesn't work.

[Key]

:( Hello.
I have a Pentium MMX 200MHz computor with Windows 95.
Recently when i click on the START button, a vertical bar with multible colourful squares (Icons?) appears, running the full height of the screen and i get the message "Explorer has committed a illegal operation" etc. and when i close it i lose my active desktop.
I can still use the computor but i can't get into my Programs, Settings, Find, etc. from the Start button, and to shut the computor down i have to use ALT/F4.
It does NOT do this when i run the computer at 640 x 480 resolution, only at higher resolutions.
Any ideas? Thanks for any help.
Key

[userserver]

Update your video driver. Classic symptom of corrupted or badly written video driver.

[Key]

Thanks UserServer.
I re-installed the correct driver but it didn't make any difference. I still can't use the START button.
Key

[jawaligt]

:confused:
If you didn't update any drivers/installed new hardware recently I think the only solution is to reinstall windows. But we'll need more info on exactly WHEN did the problem start... :confused:

[userserver]

This doesn't happen to be a Gateway does it?

[Helios2]

A long shot since I didn't hear you say you changed any settings, but you may want to check the bios for a setting called vga pallette snoop. Some video cards will experience strange behavior when this is set to enable.

Also, what is your color depth set to when you run at 640x480? How about your color depth at higher resolutions? If it is set to 256 colors try someting higher such as 16bit.

[Bizkitkid2001]

This doesn't happen to be a Gateway does it?

Are you dissing Gateway? I love my gateway. Had it for 3 years and no problems.

[userserver]

No, not dissing Gateway. One of Gateway's vendors decided to save some money by reducing the amount of plastic used to make the front panel switch assembly used on several models of towers.

The mounting brackets fail with distressing regularity. The on/off button is supposed to rest against the microswitch in the control assembly, but when the bracket breaks, most users aren't aware of it.

If Key has a Gateway, it is something to consider.

My mother, sister, and nephew all have Gateways. My daughters and nieces have Dells.

[Key]

Thanks All.
NO, i hadn't changed any settings (before this happened). The colour is set at 24 Bit, True Colour as it has been for a long time and when it was working OK.
I tried changing to Hi-Colour, 16 Bit but it didn't work in that either except at lowest resolution.
I also tried setting the resolution at 1224 x 768 to see what would happen but when i did that it when wacky right off and i couldn't get anywhere with it.
I may have to re-install Windows 95 (again) but wondering if there might be a single file or two that could be re-installed that might correct it?
No, it's not a Gateway, it was made (assembled) locally about 4 years ago.
Key.

[frank5]

I have 2 gateways. My first computer was one of these. Now both are just gateway shells with completely different components on the inside.
Gateway is in trouble now because they charge too much for their computers and everybody knows it now. Since their business is declining and so is thier stock, they have recently decided to lower their prices. Its about time!