Test to see if you have 24-bit color and 800x600 resolution or better.
To change the settings to 24 bit or better do the following:
Click the Start button on your computer and go to Settings:Control
Panel. Double-click on the Display icon then click on the settings
tab. Under the color palette box change it from 16-bit to 24-bit
or better. Then click Apply and restart your computer if needed.
If 16-bit is the highest option you can select, you aren't out of luck
yet. Under the Desktop Area box you can take the slider and drag
it one notch to the left. However this will increase the size of
your desktop area. A smaller desktop area will allow you to view
more on a webpage and have more space on the screen. If you are willing
to sacrifice screen space for picture quality then click Apply. You
may have to restart your computer for it to take affect. Once the
new seettings are in place go back and change the color to 24-bit or higher.
If you can't go higher than 16-bit AND have a screen resolution
of 800x600
or better then this may be the time for a new monitor or video driver.
Your not alone, I can only have 16-bit and 800x600 or 24-bit and 640x480.
If you want to print out renderings or view renderings you can temporarily
switch to 640x480 and go up to 24-bit color depth.