Where are User Account Pictures stored on Vista

[Marvin Landman]

Hi,

Windows XP stores .bmp files in "C:\All Users\Application
Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures" for each user.

Windows Vista has the same directory at "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User
Account Pictures" but in only contains empty .dat files.

Where are the actual User Account Pictures stored on Vista?

Thanks.

Regards,
Marvin

[Jialiang Ge [MSFT]]

Hello Marvin

Prior to Windows Vista, each user's icon is stored separately in the form
of C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User
Account Pictures\<user name>.bmp.

Based on my observations, these changes were made in Windows Vista, and the
later operating systems.
First, the .dat files under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures
contains paths to the target account picture file. The .dat file is empty
for default accounts. If you change the account's setting, e.g. change its
picture, the settings will be flushed to the .dat file after logoff or
switching user.
Second, the bmp file has a copy in the current user's local profile:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp\<domain>+<username>.bmp

I'm researching to see whether there's any "official" API to retrieve the
account picture. I will update you with my findings soon.

P.S.
This is indeed not a kernel question. Sending it to the shell newsgroup
(microsoft.public.platformsdk.shell) may be more appropriate.

Regards,
Jialiang Ge (jia...@online.microsoft.com, remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

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[Jialiang Ge [MSFT]]

Hello

How are you? May I know whether my last reply help you or not?

Regards,
Jialiang Ge
Microsoft Online Community Support

=================================================

Delighting our customers is our #1 priority. We welcome your comments and
suggestions about how we can improve the support we provide to you. Please
feel free to let my manager know what you think of the level of service
provided. You can send feedback directly to my manager at:
msd...@microsoft.com.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
=================================================

[Marvin Landman]

Thank you for your question, information in that reply was sufficient to
solve my problem.