I use Windows Classic theme and Windows Classic style in the Windows and
buttons list on the Appearance tab, so all of these are what I find with
those.

You can see what most of the changes will look like in the preview window as
you make changes before applying them.

In order to fully use this feature you must have your Windows and
buttons setting on Windows Classic.

Right click Desktop | Properties | Appearance tab | Advanced button |
Click the V Under Item: to expand the menu |
Window elements menu:

* Menu
Is the Menu bar; with File, Edit, View, etc.  Size is the bar height.  Color
1 is the bar background color.  Font choice, font color, font size and Bold
or Italic.  Changing the font size larger will also change the bar height
larger to accommodate the larger text size.

Besides the text on the Start menu, this also affects right click menus;
File, Edit, View, etc. text on the Menu bar; the text on File, Edit, View,
etc. menus.

How to Change the Font, Size, and Colors of Desktop Items
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310543

Hi

Thank you for your reply which was very helpful  but thwe only problem i
still have is my start menu is now italicised but subsequent menus  i.e
program menu then accessory menus are still in normal  font

Any ideas?