ALL Finder Files Disappeared • Blinking Menu Bar • No Access to iDisk

Question

There have been a chain of events within the last week that makes me so mad with Apple. In March 2008, I had spent £2,000 on the top of the line MacBook Pro (one of many machines I own, all mac).
1. Six days ago, ALL files and folders disappeared from the Desktop without trace.
2. Two days ago, the right hand side of the Menu Bar started blinking on & off.
3. Two days ago, I have not had access to my iDisk.
1. No other reports to offer. I looked around for the files but they were nowhere to be seen.
2. Mac user since 1991. I own various machines but this particular problem lies with a MacBook Pro 2008 using 10.5.4
The laptop has two users. One is fine while one is not. A new user was created but upon logging in for the first time the right hand side of the menu bar blinked off and on just like the existing user. No hard drives have been connected. All files backed up via drag and drop wirelessly.
3. Since this development I have been unable to get to my iDisk; it might be related or coincidental with problem number 2. Last night I re-entered my .mac/MobileMe account details whereupon I was presented with a message saying the machine had not synced before. Not true. It had been syncing automatically since the day of purchase March 2008. I wonder if there is a connection between somewhere deep down in the Library, updated versions for 10.5.4 and MobileMe. Somewhere along the line a combination of events triggered the tool bar to start blinking...
It's strange how one user is fine (seldom used and DOES NOT have a MobileMe account) while the main one, me, is not fine (used heavily throughout the day and DOES have an active MobileMe account).
At this point, I don't intend to re-install and start all over again (I've done this so many times with other machines over the years that I was hoping those days had finally gone based upon Apple's brilliant recent advancements).
I don't care nor wish to hear about backing al files up with Time Machine (I back up regularly), I would like to get to the point of understanding why any or all of the aforementioned problems happened in the first place so it doesn't happen again.
Many thanks for any help or comments in advance

Answer 1

Try starting in "Safe Mode" (It will take more time to startup in Safe Mode because it runs a directory check.)
Now test. If that works go to System Preferences >> Accounts >> Login Items, and remove them. Boot normally and test. If not go to ~(yourHome)/Library/Contextual Menu Items and move whatever is there to the desktop. Then do the same with /Library/Contextual Menu Items. Lastly, try moving ~(yourHome)/Library/Fonts to your desktop and restarting.
Log out/in or restart, if that sorts it start putting items back one at a time until you find the culprit.
-mj