Background:

I have recently upgraded to Windows 7 using the windows easy transfer which
I understand corrupts my contacts (would have been nice to know).

Since then I have done a number of things to try and remedy this problem
such as starting a new personal folder and most recently I moved all of my
..pst files to another hard-drive, uninstalled microsoft office including
outlook, then re-installed outlook trying to start from scratch.
Unfortunatley, no matter what I do I cannot use my contacts.

Through all the searching on the internet, the only solution I can find is
either a 3rd party .pst repair program or calling some MS phone number which
costs $200, who I then understand will give me some program to fix it.
Either of these options are so unacceptable, I have also started looking for
a new e-mail client, however, I know it will not work as well, especially
with other third-party programs that I have that interact with outlook -
Point being - I would like to be able to use my contacts again. Without them
the program is essentially useless and I will have to look elsewhere....

Anyways, frustration aside, how can I use contact again... I don't care if I
have to delete everything in my outlook (as I have it backed) up... I just
need to get to a place where outlook is functioning properly like in my
pre-windows7 days....