So, I tried the above mentioned. I uninstalled everything (SH3 GWX and SH Commander) wiped out everything to do with all the folders, and reinstalled. I installed commander to a seperate folder, and it screwed up my system majorly...I know it was a mistake on my part, combined with the fact that windows Vista is a horrible little OS.
At any rate, a system restore fixed the actual windows issues, and then I just said, screw it and installed SH3 and GWX 3.0 and SH3 Commander+ the GWX CFG for Commander to the regular menus where they wanted to install to begin with (C:/Programs Folder) figuring, at least commander lets me do everything else I want. I just settled with the idea of getting only the ship names and tonnages. I really didn't need to know cargo and crew information. Having lost my previous 5 patrol career which wasn't going so well to begin with, I decided to start another career and chose a name, the 7th/13th Flotilla and a VIIB boat.
I let SH choose my U-boat number, not having one off the top of my head. I got U-101 and decided to keep the number. I set out on my first patrol and immediately returned to base (Edited logbook to read as a shake down cruise so SH Commander could make necessary adjustments)
I did not adjust anything on my U-boat before this patrol. I have read that there are some known bugs that would cause, including not being rewarded for sinking shipping. I have never had that problem, and before reading that I would always set my U-boat up the way I wanted it and the go on patrol. I do not know why I chose to do it differently this time around...
Anyways, I go out on my second patrol and I only manage to sink 3 merchants all single contacts throughout the entire mission. I stayed at sea for 14 days (not long at all, but 7 days of severely rough weather annihilated my fuel reserves) and finally I return to port. Exit SH3 and return to commander's main window. I update my personnel profile like normal, expecting to see ship names and tonnages, but lo and behold!!!
I have ship names, tonnages,
Cargo and Crew Information!
Needless to say I am very confused now...I have done nothing different except not modify my U-boat before a patrol (which I have done in the past with commander to make sure that wasn't the issue and it never solved the problem then) and I stayed at sea a little bit longer before returning to port. I also didn't set a number for my U-boat or change it after saving from first patrol and editing in Commander later. All other times I have used Commander I would edit my U-boat number before starting a new career. I am now very curious is this was the problem the whole time?!
I have no idea how this problem found its own solution. The system restore would having nothing to do with it, as neither would the removal of all SH3 and SH3 Commander folders because I have done that multiple times in the past as well.
Did the planets properly align?!
EDIT: In case any of you are scratching your heads as to why I ended my patrol due to fuel constraints, considering that fuel is really no issue: That's my way of dancing around having to say that the fiancee had dinner ready and I really needed to end the patrol for the sake of avoiding domestic violence charges that would surely have been pinned on her when the neighbors heard my blood curdling screams of horror as she beat me with my laptop...