the "my computer" icon on my windows XP desktop mysteriously changed
to 4-bit color, while all the rest of my icons (e.g. "my docs,"
recycle bin...) have remained in a high resolution, anti-aliased
format. what on earth happened? or, i don't care so much about that
as: how can i fix it?

(i have posted a screenshot at www.personal.psu.edu/jrd210/desktop.jpg
for illustration)

Hello deerob,

Thank you for your question. 

Probably the easiest method is to use tweakui! And if you don't have
this amazing utility, you just might find that you will enjoy the
myriad of other things it can do for you.

Be sure to get the version specific to XP. This page has a link to
that downlaod, a good description and also instructions for how to use
it to rebuild your icons:

http://www.ckcs.org/topfifty/45.html

This Tweak works on Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, and NT. 
You can download TWEAKUI 1.33 from the Internet. 

In Windows XP: You can download Windows XP Powertoys (TweakUI.exe).
This one is for Windows XP only.
PLEASE CLICK HERE http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe

To Install !! 

The last Tweakui file is usually Tweakui.inf, right click on it, then
click on Install. Half way thru it will show the help file, close the
help file and it will finish installing.

Now go to Start > Setting > Control Panel and Tweakui will be there.
Click on it to open it. Be careful about changing things, remember the
previous settings, you may want to go back. If your computer is like
you want it , do not change anything....

...Rebuild icons 

Do one or more icons on your desktop (or your Quick Launch toolbar, or
anywhere else for that matter) suddenly look nothing like they're
supposed to-in other words, they're the wrong icons? Tweak UI can
rebuild them (or at least, it can try). Open Tweak UI, select the
Repair tab, and you'll see Rebuild Icons selected. Click Repair now,
wait a bit, and those icons should be good as new...


Search Strategy:

rebuild icons +xp

I trust my research has provided you with agreat utility that will
restore this icon as well as offer a great deal of other uses and
functions. If a link above should fail to work or anything require
further explanation or research, please do post a Request for
Clarification prior to rating the answer and closing the question and
I will be pleased to assist further.

Regards,

-=clouseau=-

it worked! thanks