Contacts gone after Windows Live Essentials update

Did a Windows Live Essentials update, after which, my email contacts were all gone.

I did system restore, exported the old addys to a folder.
After closing Windows Live Mail, I could not reopen without re-doing the update install. So, I did.

When I went to the CONTACTS tab (bottom left) it never really opens.
It clears the emails or calendar, from the main window but leaves the same 'ribbon'
(or task bar or whatever at the top). It doesn't show the options that should be there for 'contacts' (no import/export/etc).

If it matters, I do not sign in to Windows Live Mail. When I open it, there's always a a popup that says I've tried to sign-in too many times with the wrong info.
I hit cancel, the popup goes bye-bye and I can use mail. Until now. Ugh!

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

I wish Microsoft would officially confirm a problem and offer some (FREE) support or resolution. I also update after many times postponing, and sure enough all my contacts were gone as well. I used to skip signing in but now I do, never was a problem before. Contcts came back, but seem to be only partially there, many are missing. No clue why or what to do, no pattern. I am ready to restore undo etc to try and resolve this, I wish someone from Microsoft would step up and admit there CAN BE PROBLEMS with contacts and HELP US!!!!!!!!!! (PLEASE)

A browse of the net shows that there are dozens maybe hundreds of similar "complaints" or issues with contacts after doing the Live mail Essentials update. Sure we all may have bad procedures or settings or missing something that MS assumes is set the way they want... BUT... C.mon guys, THERE IS A PROBLEM PLEASE HELP US!

I've had this laptop for a couple of years. To my knowledge, this is the first 'windows live essentials' update I've been prompted to make. And before I got to this forum, I was at official Microsoft/Windows sites over and over again, with a roadblock to 'help' every time. Pathetic. Make me want to get a Mac. And I'm not a Mac-gal.

It seems from some hint at answers.microsoft.com that the issue is somehow related to profile and signing on. I for one, after being forced to abandon Outllok (and Outlook Express) when my new laptop came with Windows 7, installed and launched Windows Livemail --- imported contacts, and all seemed well...

...I always declined (by closing the dialog box "x") the sign-on dialog... it went places I didn't want to go, involving other applications and entities I use. THis seemd to work, for almost a year, no issues. Always launched Live Mail when rebooted or whatever but closed that signon box.

...after persisent (annoying) reminders to update, I said YES. All my contacts were then gone. I played with restore and also signing on, and all seemed to be back. I didnt check them, but there were hundreds so I assumed all was well.

Today, one of the users I send to often, starting with letter P, was missing when I composed an email. I subsequently noticed all the P's were gone except 3 users I communciated with recently. I also notice ALL the a's are gone, even though I have had many A'name contacts over the year(s), but all the B's are there. I went to saved messages and found a message from a contact name starting with A, opened it, and chose ADD CONTACT. Instead of saying "already added" it accepted it. Now there is one A and many B's. It makes no sense. MICROSOFT Cmon PLEASE explain this all better please!!!