Normal mode has safe mode graphics!

*** In a nutshell: imagine normal mode + normal resolution, but with safe mode colours and graphics. ***



I ran safe mode after a sudden shut down due to a power failure. I did nothing in safe mode, just restarted again, normally.
Now, everything runs normal, everything looks ok - until I type in the password at the start. After that, the keyboard selection box (top left on the startup screen) changes to white, the task bar looks like the safemode task bar and programs such as firefox do not display properly. (e.g. Facebook looks like a skeleton, consists of white background + black separator lines! no blue, no nothing apart from graphcis (images))
I've already checked display resolution, colour depth, etc. - it's all normal. My conclusion is this: There is a CHANGE imposed by Win7 in normal mode which changes something concerning the graphics to safe mode. I can see images, desktop background normally, everything else (task bar, skype, Firefox, etc.) looks weird.
Can anyone tell me WHERE I need to look? Thanks!

solved. system restore.