icons gone strange in windows XP

[nicnic]

This is a difficult one to explain, but ever since I did some 'add and remove programs' (ones that weren't important and I didn't need) something odd has happened to my desktop items. I cant describe it too well, but for instance my recycle bin is now white and blue rather than white and green and a totally different shape, others look a weird colour and my desktop folders dont look like they do normally, they're very angular and huge. Any idea how I can get this back to normal? I've had a look in display settings but there doesnt seem to be an option to change this. Can anyone help a stupid person in need?

[nicnic]

never mind, sorted it. lived with this for weeks and couldnt work it out, and once i post this question, I sort it. Sorry people.