Windows 7: Cant' Import Multiple VCF Live Mail Contacts

I accidentally deleted my Windows Live Mail contact list while coping and transferring it to another PC. That works fine.

I keep my contact list backed up in .VCF format and have Imported from my backup before.

But now, when I try to Import the (entire) contact list at once, (as I've done before), it imports VERY slowly, and after each contact slowly comes into the list,





I get a message " you already have this contact, do you want to over-write it?" (There are ZERO contacts there now??)



It would take days to import my contact list at this pace.



I have Windows 7 Pro, 64 bit.



Any ideas as to what is causing this?



Thanks in advance........................