I wasn't sure what happened, MrFarinHight. Looks like a Google problem now.
GBHil, I had accessed another Google Mail account last week, right about the time that this happened. I am 99.99% positive that I was not prompted about any deletes nor did I do anything to intitiate it. For some reason, it did keep 11 of my 100+ contacts - some that I call regularly, one that I've never called!
So let me make sure I'm clear on your suggestion:
* Hard reset (remove the battery, put it back, correct?)
* Log in to Gmail (or on the phone itself?) under my other Gmail account
* In that other Gmail, wipe the data (just delete all contacts? - there's only one in the other Gmail so no big deal there)
* Log back win with my usual Gmail
Is this correct?
What i was suggesting -
Wipe all data on the phone and reboot.
When it comes back up, you'll be faced with the setup wizard. Use the different gmail account. I would even go into the market and and download a free app or two.
Wipe all data on the phone and reboot again.
This time use your regular Gmail account in the setup wizard.
Keep in mind this is only a guess, and may be a lot of trouble for nothing. It really sounds like your phone deleted your contacts and then sync'd. Maybe the database got hosed, maybe something else. But something caused a sync that erased your contacts on the web.
Wiping all data and rebuilding the DB would be my first thing to try, and hope it doesn't happen again. Changing your login and erasing any potentially bad data, then erasing it all over again and changing your login back should rebuild everything.
Two quick questions - Does the market correctly show your apps that are installed as still installed?
Is your Google talk app still working?