I first downloaded inkscape to my works PC, and started making shapes and images for a CD cover am working on, When I got home I downloaded it onto my own laptop, but I can't make shapes or stars? Whats all that about?

There could be many reasons.
Until you give us a more specific description my guess would be your objects are fully transparent.
Open the xml editor to see if there are any shapes added.

Ok thanks, that does seem to be the problem, Iv now made a rectangle but my next problem is trying to fill it with colour?

Am on fire tonight! iv work that out all by myself!

Runningmonkey,
congrats on figuring that out.
its a great feeling catching on to something new.

Next time your shapes are invisible look at the top of the inkscape window and click the "view" button
there are several view modes listed there and one of them is "outline". If you click on outline you can find any objects
in your drawing....even when they're invisible (so long as you didnt hide them). You can select a completely transparent object in outline view,
then switch back to normal to fix it.