Mija Lee <mija(at)scharp(dot)org> writes:
> Solaris 10. We are using the solaris package of postgres, which is why we are
> using 8.1.4 (I believe).
OK, that lets out the Windows theory. Do you maybe have the database
directory mounted via NFS? NFS has its own set of strange behaviors...
eg this one:
http://www.sunmanagers.org/archives/2000/0924.html
You said the directory appeared empty, but did you check for dot-files?
regards, tom lane