Lost ALL pref's, doc settings, iphoto photos... as tho I launched from day1

Question

Greetings,
While my G5 was in sleep mode, somehow it logged me out. When I logged back in, the generic/original screen pic appeared, an open (raised) doc void of all the icons I put in it, all email (both .mac and AOL)--even the trash was emptied! I MAY have moved my 'home' directory but thought I put it back into the Users folder (there's a folder for deleted users, with a same 'home' name, which out of confusion I may've inadvertantly switched--and then tried to switch back). I booted Utils from orig. CD and ran diag's but nothing was in need of repair. This happened out of the blue--recently I've been desperately trying to move essential settings (plists?) and old mail from one computer to another (as I need to sell one and want to synch all data before I erase the HD on the G5 I'm going to sell--IF--I can ever get back to where I was before I lost all my pref's. Even my desktop files are gone (but are in a library under the old user name). ANY way I can get things back AND consolidate all my mail, photos etc so I can have one up-to-date system? For years now I've had nothing but praise for OSX as it always works flawlessly, but, as 'Murphy' as it, when I screw things up, I do it in a way that's beyond comprehension! I can't even log into my AOL email as AOL's prompting me to set up the whole program as though I never used it... ANY help will be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks,
Ken

Answer 1

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the speedy reply. I followed the steps outlined in 106854 (saw the two but mistakingly presumed they were dupes of each other). After "enabling the root user" in the Security menu in Netinfo Mgr, which didn't work, I then realized I missed reading 107854 which speaks to OSX 10.3 or later.
In reading 107854 I don't see a substitute/temp user name in the /user folder, but in all my looking previously I believe I DID see a folder that contained info prior to my screwing things up (I think what I did originally was accidentally drag my user/short name (home?) out of the window, which went 'poof'... I put the system to sleep in order to get some other household things done, and I'd set things up to log me off at a certain point--which it did... when I went to log back in it was as though the Mac came fresh out of the box with all the generic presets like an open dock (missing everything I'd added over time) and an empty desktop (which had numerous folders), empty iPhoto, and even empty trash. It was shortly afterwards I had seen a sub-file/folder that was entitled 'desktop' which had what used to be present on the desktop prior to my God-awful error.
I live in an area where there are zero Mac stores/repair shops but luckily had a number of someone who was trying to set up a shop a couple years ago--I called and his wife said they've got things in full swing now, and even make house calls. After talking to this guy (he's too busy to come tomy home) we figured I'd bring in the Tower to his shop to see if he can get things back to where they were--probably best before I add ANY further 'layers' of screwups, making things even worse.
I really appreciate your getting back to me so quickly, and I'd started this response last night but didn't send it off until I reread the other links in your kind response! Things like this always seem to happen when you need your system the most--and I'm trying to get all the data moved over to my old 733 Quicksilver so I can sell the Dual 2.7 along with a 30" HD display before it loses any further value on the market. Heck, I'm about to look into a Mini in order to have something both new and affordable and not have to switch files around, especially with having the old 733 as my only primary system; I have boatloads of costly stuff I desperately need to dump onto eBay, and the sooner the better (I'm one of those who've been caught up in that 'real estate bubble' and need to drastically rearrange my financial picture--all while on a fixed, early retirement; add all that up, and it spells 'stress' in caps!
Thanks again Mike. Even tho it's costly going the route of having a pro-tech type straighten things out I figure I may be miles ahead, plus, hopefully haven't lost any data.
BEST Regards!
Ken Klinger
(direct email: KenRK@aol) seeing I may have problems accessing my Mac acct.