[Inspiron 6000] problems with colors/menus on Win XP

Hi,
I am not sure whether this post fits this forum, if not I apologize for it but it looks like it has to do with the graphic drivers/card.

I recently reinstalled Windows XP on my inspiron 6000 together with all the reccomended upgrades (Software Pack 3 etc) and used the Dell Drivers and Utilities CD. But after installing was completed a few strange effects appeared while running applications like Mozilla Firefox (or other navigators) and also while running other SW like Microsoft Office Excel/Word.

For example the effects related to the navigators where related with the display of the web pages menus, I could see the menus but all the color schemes
they are designed with is not visible so you canb see a dropdown menu overllapping a piece of text which is visible beneath  the menu itself making the reading difficult.

here is another example where many small icons and colors inside the mailing program are not rendered.

Below is how I see this forum:

MS Excel: when I change the background color of a cell/line/etc. the background remains white, as if nothing had been done.
Same story if I change the letters colors.

Other applications like Photoshops elements, has its menu buttons all B/W and with no shade whatsoever.....and on.

I wonder whether this has to do with the reinstalled device drivers of the graphic card (ATI Mobility Radeon X300) or it has explanations? or the graphic card itself.

Any help would be appreciated

Antonio