Mail's icons are blank and preferences won't open

Question

I have thrown away the plist file from my library but the problem persists.
I can function without the icons showing up in the buttons above the message window, but not being able to access privileges is difficult.

Answer 1

Currently in Mail 3.x, there is an oval in the upper right of the Mail window, but in the Preferences window, there is not.
Let's do a test: Create a New User Account, and as that New User launch Mail and try setting up one email account (if POP select to leave messages on the server after download. See the following if not familiar with adding a new user account:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8235.html
The reason for doing this is to test the Mail app itself, and not to permanently switch to a new user account. Tell me if after setting up one email account, and requesting the Preferences pane, the behavior continues in that New User Account?
Ernie