My computer's desktop icon text use to look like this

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9484/desktop7fu.jpg

[just text on its own with shaddows so it STANDS out on the desktop background picture with no backgrounds]

but then my computer broke and someone took it away and fixed it but when it came back they looked like this

http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled22cv.jpg

[the text with little coloured backgrounds behind them like u use to get on the older versions of windows]

How do i change them back to normal so there's no backgrounds, just smooth over the desktop background.

HOPE you understand what i mean. please help if you can, it's really annoying. thanksOpen Control Panel > System Properties > Advanced tab, and click Settings in the Performance section. Turn OFF the Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop option, and click Ok.
If the setting is already OFF, toggle Use drop shadows setting.I TRIED this with the box ticked and unticked but they are still there. Any Suggestions?Right click on your desktop, click on "Arrange Icons By" and make sure "Lock Web Items on Desktop" is disabled.

Caution, no matter how tempting DO NOT try to fix this with TweakUI.Tried it, still there. Any others?Sadly I don't have an XP machine here to try things but all the Googling points to the same answers.
Google for "TRANSPARENT desktop icons".
In addition to me tweakui comment above I suggest you also steer clear of any other 'programs' that offer to fix this for you.
Have you tried refreshing the screen after making changes?I am having this same problem thanks GXMAN for reffering me to this thread.  I tried these resolutions but they remain shaded on my screen as well.

Fed...what do you mean by "refreshing" the screen?Right click on your desktop & select refresh.This could possibly be a problem with the background color, since it will SHOW through the wallpaper. The icon text will appear against the background color.