User folder has reverted back to "new user" after Finder crash

A co-worker here was working on his Dual G5 (10.3.9) tower when his finder froze up. After not getting any reaction from the computer, he held down the power button until the computer shutoff. After restarting, it restarted fine with his user but all settings have been reset to those for a default user and all of his files, documents, desktop, dock settings, email and work is gone. It is the same thing you get when you create a new user and login.
The HD icon has been replaced with that of the orangish-install package. Right now I have shut down the computer because, even though the data is technically still on the HD, the HD may think that the space where it is stored is available to be written over. Any tips? I can get most of his stuff from the back up tapes but it will take a long time (OMG, thank you Retrospect). Anybody had a similar problem before? This is bizarre.
Thanks in advance.
Dual proc G5 (speed not exactly sure)   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

Hi Nathan:
It never happened to me but I feel that the login data is still lurking somewhere.
Have you already tried "Log out user"... and log-in again? But if you are afraid to touch anythinmg, then here is a link to Applejack that may correct the situation:
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=2005041817191411
You may find some other Applejack forum experiences that may match your current situation.
Please keep us posted and good luck.
Bob

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