Maybe...

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=320531
Changes to the fill color and the fill pattern are not displayed in Office
programs

RWR wrote:

I cannot see Fill features on excel worksheets, although they print out fine.
I am not sure if it is and Excel setting problem or my Display. I have
reinstalled Office 2003 but no luck. The problem applies to sheets which I
have created and imported ones as well. I am not familiar with Excel, being
a former 1-2-3 dinosaur, so I won't be surprised if the answer is real simple.
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RWR

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Dave Peterson