Desktop won't change from black

[maxwinter2001]

After a week of problems I finally have 9.10 installed on my laptop. But except for the top and bottom panels/bars/whatever, the desktop is black. Nothing I do in the Appearance Preferences box does anything to change it. What's the answer? Anyone?

[lidex]

Have a look here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1308027
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1278410
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mesa/+bug/421334