Vista - Disappearing Vista Start Menu

My pc locked up and had to be restored and now the start menu disappears but will return after pc is on for about 4-5 hours sometimes and when I try to type anything in emails or browser or anywhere else, I can't because 4's fill up every available space. I can't do anything because my programs are gone, I can't see any of them and I cannot write anything. Once in a while I can begin to type and the 4's won't appear but this has been going on for almost 6 days now. Gateway Support keeps saying make a backup disc but I cannot see anything so how am I to do this. And if it does by chance show the programs, I cannot type in anything because of the 4's filling everything up. What is causing this and what is the cure? This has me very confused.

Hello Teeny,

It sounds like you may need to restore your OEM Vista back to factory defaults (clean reisntall).

If you have a Vista Recovery CD, then you can use it to do this.

If not, then this will help show you how to for a Gateway computer with a recovery partition. Click on Yes after clicking on the link to see the instructions.

https://support.gateway.com/s/softwa...15910su9.shtml

If you cannot see to do this, then you may be able to boot to the Advanced Boot Options screen and select the Repair your computer option to boot from your recovery partition to do a Restore to factory default.

Hope this helps,
Shawn