Missing or moved data in vista/New profile automatically created

This is the scenario I experienced last night. After playing a game (not
online) I initiated a system restart and when the machine started loading
windows vista ultimate, I recieved the initial start up screen that says
loading desktop. After the system fully loaded, my pics, music, game save
data and office docs were "missing". The system was not connected to the
internet and I am the only user, I initiated multiple av scans using CA and
Clamwin, as well as Windows Defender. All scans came back clean. I checked
the drive space in "Computer" and discovered that all of the data is still
there somewhere?! After clicking on C drive and going to user data i
discovered the system created a new user profile, which is what i was logged
in under at the time of the discovery, and that all of my data is still
accessible. Checking event viewer I discovered registry errors and checking
"Control Panel-System" and looking at windows activation on the bottom-my
Product ID states unavailable.......Has anyone else come across this issue
yet.
The last update dates on the 16th of June 2007 and concerns Office products
and Display Drivers only.More information will be added as it becomes
available, my system is not currently with me to divulge the remainder of
what was found that was different, such as file names which i was unable to
access.
--
Kenneth "David" Cox
Dell support tech

[PetKerm]

I have experienced the same issue with Vista Ultimate. I was logged on to my PC with a different user (Administrator) with was connected to the same domain as my personal user ( Role Administrator). When I logged of and performed a reboot of the Machine, I was able to logon. Once the PC was booted, I saw that it generated a 'new Desktop' and all my personal user data was missing. My Documents, Pictures, Music, Shortcuts on my desktop were gone. All scans came back clean, and the registry seems to be in order. When looking at previous shadow copies for the directories in question, I noticed a new restore point was created with the content that I had expected.

It was a painful process, but I believe I was able to restore all my files. ( My music files are all gone, non - recoverable) My concern is MS Office Outlook 2007. When I start, it behaves like I am starting Outlook for the first time. My Inbox is completely gone. No mails, no folders. .. etc.

This is a HUGE problem for me. Did you experience the same thing? Were you able to fix the problem. I am clueless how this could have happen.

Please help...

Pete