Was wondering why my game has had a weird pattern-like effect on foliage since the latest patch. When I checked the settings on the options of the launcher menu it is forcing the choice of Geforce 8800 GS, when my card is an ATI Radeon. Anyone else having this bizarre issue?

Sounds to me like you have left over files from a Nvidia card before you switched to the ATI. Did you switch hardware recently?

If you go into Steam and do the check 'verify my game files', it's like you re-installed the game.
Your .ini files will be reset to default; all your in-game settings will be reset (level of difficulty etc, everything but your buttons) and your vidcard will be re-detected.
You'll have to do your video settings all over again...
Which might be a good thing for you (not so good for some, who weren't expecting it, heheh)
If it re-detects your vidcard as nVidia, then you officially have Windows problems.
You had better perform a major tuneup on your rig...

Thanks, and no I haven't updated my vid card...which would have made sense if I did.

Edit: Just tried it, still says Geforce 8800 for some reason. My other games using steam, like Fallout: New Vegas are fine...so it is still a mystery.

You got a file named d3d9.dll in your main Skyrim directory? If so that's the cause. It's used for a few mods like ENB and the skyrim framerate limiter.

you need to delete the skyrim ini ,and skyrimpref ini b4 you do the repare verify thing in steam then it will reset your vid settings , also there is a folder in the skyrim root folder named skyrim inside that is a ini file that need deleting aswell b4 you do repare and verify one you do that it will then give you a fresh lot of ini files ..

You sir, get the cookie. That worked, thanks.

No probs