"spontaneous" change in appearance of my win7 Start button

Have you tried setting the theme from "Modified Theme" to (I'm using Vista, so it may be a bit different) "Windows Aero or 7?"

In case you don't know how to change the themes follow these instructions:

Desktop> Right-click> Personalize> (a Conntrol Panel window will pop up) Select the "Windows 7" theme click OK, see if it works, if it doesn't try another theme.

Also, have you tried restarting the computer? And as mentioned you could try copying your files to another user account.

Hope this helps!

Yeah, the timing is a bit ironic.  But there's literally nobody who touches the computer but me.  It's frustrating that M$ won't answer the question of how to change the appearance back without redoing your whole system.  Makes me wonder if they know their own product!  <sigh>

Given the date of your original post is it possible an april fools joke (not so funny). there are third party programs that can do this.  any jokesters around the computer?

for referance purposes:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73616-how-create-custom-start-orb-image.html?filter\[2\]=Appearance%20Personalize

It is probalbly easiest to create a new account and transfer settings and programs. I am sure it can be done, but alas I don't know how.

Alas, none of this helps.  No changes I can recallp; no themes; no virus infections.  If I create a new user account, the new account has the correct (circular) icon for Start, but that doesn't help me with my existing account, which has all my settings and programs.

:-(

Hi,

· Do you remember any recent change made on the computer prior to the issue?

· Have you set any theme? Or do you have any third-party theme installed on the computer?

You may refer the below link for more information on the same: What is a theme?: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/what-is-a-theme

1.     Run online virus scan and check if any malware or virus activity found on the computer. You may run online virus scan from the below link: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

2.     Check the behavior in another user account. You may refer the below link: Create a user account: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/Windows7/Create-a-user-account