If you ever want to back up your settings generally the easiest way would be just go into your documents folder and open the my games folder in there. And just copy the entire final fantasy 14 directory.

This will contain your screenshots. And all your settings. Hud layouts macros. Gearsets. Config settings everything.

I have a sync program that keeps all my files backed up and synced and it does this automatically on all my devices. Proves to be advantageous because if I change my hotbars on my laptop they're automatically changed on my pc.

If your missing inventory items they're probably still there. Just if you haven't copied the settings correctly. They'll be in a different slot. So if you were looking for an item on the first tab for example it might be on the second or third or whatever if you didn't copy the inventory sort info.

If peoples gear is coming up invisible as in you can't even see the body underneath I'd say you've got some corrupted files. If it's just a naked body with no gear on maybe it's flavoured with emporers stuff.