User/Account window problem

[Scan72]

My PC has developed a problem when displaying the "User Accounts" page. (Start / Run / nusrmgr.cpl or through the control panel). I thought that this would be easy to fix, but it has been elusive so far.

The "User Accounts" page functions properly, but in place of some of the
graphic elements there are the little red "X" boxes similar to the ones that IE displays when a graphic file is missing. There are three graphic elements missing on this particular machine:

1. The picture next to the "User Accounts" title near the top of the home
page (2 people's heads)
2. The pictures that look like a page with a ? under the "Learn About" area on the left side of the home page and other pages
3. The magnifying lens picture next to the "Browse for more pictures"
hyperlink on the "Pick a new picture for your account" page

So apparently the graphic files for these elements are missing or the file
that contains them is corrupted. Does anybody know where these graphic elements are stored?

I've tried the following so far:
A) Run sfc /scannow to let XP check all system files
B) Took a copy of nusrmgr.cpl from a working machine, put it on the desktop of the machine with a problem, double-clicked on it to run the new copy -- same problem.
C) Took a copy of nusrmgr.cpl from the machine with a problem, copied it to the desktop of a working machine, double-clicked on it to run the suspected version of the file -- works fine with no missing graphic elements

So obviously, the graphic elements are not in the nusrmgr.cpl file, but
rather are stored somewhere else. Does anybody know where? I realize that in the grand scheme of things this is a really trivial problem, but it's always interesting to learn more about Windows XP by troubleshooting little issues like this.

[DorkTalk]

Not to get your hopes up, I have the same problem but no solution yet but read on:

...So obviously, the graphic elements are not in the nusrmgr.cpl file, but
rather are stored somewhere else. Does anybody know where? ...

I am not sure if StyleXP has caused my problem as it caused the loss of other icons in my start menu so I got rid of it. If you haven't used StyleXP thenobviously that's not it.

I also did the same things Scan72 and one step ahead was to analize the nusrngr.cpl as I'd bet that it would have some html/xml whateverml script and I could find what it was looking for. I did get lucky upto a point.

Long story short the question mark like icon is called: helpdoc.ico
and the two heads one is: users.ico

the file also uses
users32.ico
stfind_3.ico

but these icons are not stored directly on the hard drive as I searched for them on a working XP. Where else to look I don't know. I even tried copying another icon file and renaming it in the folder with no luck (I was just curious).

If anyone can take us a step further please come forward..

It's good to know that I'm not the only one

[bjevers]

I just noticed this same problem on my system today. I don't know how long it has been this way. The icon files are stored in %Systemroot%\system32\shell32.dll. I wonder if doing a repair install of XP would fix the problem.

Brian

[DorkTalk]

I just noticed this same problem on my system today. I don't know how long it has been this way. The icon files are stored in %Systemroot%\system32\shell32.dll. I wonder if doing a repair install of XP would fix the problem.

Brian

I'll try copying a functioning shell32.dll from anothe XP system as it is standard. I must say that I haven't seen any reference to shell32.dll in there but it's worth a shot i guess

Let you guys know if it worked or not.

Cheers

[bjevers]

I found the solution here:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/redxaccounts.htm

[DorkTalk]

AWESOME!

I searched high and low for this and never ever crossed my mind to search google for "RED X mark user account", in fact that particular link you've posted comes up as the first result LOL.