Mysterious START Orb

I have a friend with a sony lappy running Home Premium.

The start menu on that looks the same as the one you get with the classic start menu app. ( can't remember the exact name of the app. )

I think the oem ( or maybe the shop - you know some places do customizations , usually for a fee ) supplied it like that - strange, but true.

Looks very similar to this - can't remember if there is an orb - I think so




@yuhr

Can you take a screenshot of your start menu and post it up?

If there is no orb - what do you click to get the start menu to pop up?

Is it just a square box that says start on it?

Are you asleep?

One mystery is solved: after I did Sys. Recovery to factory specs (with personal data backed up, yet not recoverable so far), I have two column Start Menu with Search for Files and Programs as was described above; it even works as Run... command - I had to reconfig my IP. I guess that initially, over two years ago, I did not like it and changed it to Classic Look; now it looks better, so I'll stick to it.
On top of everything, we started messy cosmetic renovations (painting and wallpaper hanging), so I had to disconnect everything, put my PC., etc. in plastic bags and move them to less dusty areas of the house, at least for a few days. I contacted Gateway about my Backup, the tech informed me that he is trained in hardware only, which in my case, was Okay. He referred me to an English-speacking software tech, who informed me of my two options: for $199 the problem can be fixed, for $299 I'll get some extended service. I said that I could buy a new PC in that price range and terminated the chat.
If I will not be able to restore my backup, I'll try to restore my old (~1-2 month) backup from external HD.
This post was typed at my work PC. My next workday is next Fri.
Thanks.