Latemail,
Saved you some work and found the culprit in the menu_1024_768.ini file. This entry is missing and needs to be added then all works fine:
[G3F I396]
Name=Bkgr
Type=1031;Stat bmp array
ItemID=0x3F420006
ParentID=0x3F420000
Pos=0,30,512,256
Materials=1
Display=0;No stretch
Mat 0=data/menu/gui/layout/dials1b.tga
MatFlags=0x29
TexFmt=0x9
Drag=false
BmpState=0
NeedFocus=true
SelOne=false
IdGroup=0
StatesColors=0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF
