MacBook Pro reverted to original system settings just like that

Question

hello folks,
little disaster: i turned on my machine to find that all my settings for safari have disappeared - as if I just received the machine from the factory.
Safari no longer has my bookmarks or favorites.
I opened iTunes and got the license agreement dialogue box, as if I'd never used the program before. 40 gigs of music gone!
I've lost all the files on the desktop too.
Can anyone explain? A virus? Is there a way to get back my settings to these program?
Also the trackpad is not functioning as it used to. I used to tap the trackpad once or twice for highlighting and clicking. That no longer works. Now I must click the clicker.
And the dashboard has also reverted to what I assume are the original settings with many programs that I'd removed from it back.
Desperately yours,
Goha

Answer 1

Hi again Goha,
OK, as I had never had to deal with this problem first hand I just created another account on my iBook and deliberately messed it up by changing the name...
I created the account with the name 'doris' and put some documents, music and videos in the respective folders just so I would know the difference after changing the name. I then renamed 'doris' to 'dopy', logged out and logged in. As suspected my 'doris' Home folder contained nothing of doris's. I must admit to some initial confusion following the advice from the Apple KB article but the salient points are:
From Apple KB:
"Before you assume that the home directory contents were actually lost, check the /Users folder to see if the missing home directory is present and simply renamed."
My clarification:
So, from a Finder window first select 'List view'. (I find it easier to work in list view) Select the HD icon in the left hand column, then 'Users'. Your missing stuff should be in a folder corresponding with the new name that you have assigned.
From Apple KB:
"If you determine that the home directory is present but renamed, follow these steps:
In the Finder, go to the /Users folder."
My clarification:
That is. Finder/Macintosh HD/Users
Apple KB:
"Locate the new home directory, which bears the users' short name."
My clarification:
This in my case would be the 'doris' folder which has a 'House' icon
Apple KB:
"Add "_new" to the new home directory's name."
My clarification:
Click once on the folder name (i.e. 'doris' in my case), pause, then click again. 'doris' should then become editable within a box with a cursor. Move the cursor to the end of the name and add _ new (i.e. underscore symbol and the word 'new' - without the quote marks but it probably doesn't matter)
Then key the 'Enter' key.
Apple KB:
"Rename the old home directory to the user's correct short name."
My clarification:
Click once on the folder name (i.e. 'dopy' in my case), pause, then click again. 'dopy' should then become editable within a box with a cursor. Rename this to the exact original name as it was before you changed it, in my case 'doris'.
Then key the 'Enter' key.
Apple KB:
"Log out and back in with the affected user account."
My clarification:
I hope this helps, as always:
Good luck!
Adrian