can't see posts/pages list, no default widgets – ftp install

I am stumped –
I Installed WP via ftp on server (it’s in a secure situation where I don’t have access to changing permissions myself).
Altho they’ve checked permissions ( & fixing some errors, for ex., on upload folder), it’s unusable for these reasons. I’ve switched themes – don’t think it’s theme related, same errors each time.
What does come up is the admin page, and the home page – but these issues:

1. no admin bar at top
2. I can create posts/pages (they write to the database) – although I see “6 posts” in the count at top, but none of these posts/pages appear in the list from edit.php in the admin!
3. Default widgets do not show on the WIDGETS page in admin
4. Each page (of all the themes) comes up with a “404′ page not found…It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. ” Either with the home page set to ‘static page’ or posts.

Is this a server/permissions issue – of what type and solution – or …?

Also, I turned on debug in wp-config – shows tons of notices, here are just 2:
Notice: Undefined property: stdClass::$type in /srv/www/virtual/bankpilgrim/html/wp-includes/class-wp-admin-bar.php on line 246
Notice: Undefined property: stdClass::$children in /srv/www/virtual/bankpilgrim/html/wp-includes/class-wp-admin-bar.php on line 353

Looking forward to some insight on this one, thank you.