Vista Colour Scheme switched to 'basic'

OK so I played online poker (yeah I know) on a new laptop for the first time
and when I launched the program a little pop-up in the task-bar said "windows
is switching to basic colour" or "switching to basic display" or something
like that - I didn't pay much attention. Now, after leaving the program the
display is still like an olde-worlde computer with the text etc very basic
looking. I've had a quick nose in the control panel but can't see anything
untoward. any help appreciated.