# What has hotmail done to my contacts
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-hotmail-done-to-my-contacts/349470
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 22, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-hotmail-done-to-my-contacts/349470 "2006-03-22T19:18:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-hotmail-done-to-my-contacts/349470/1 "2006-03-22T19:18:50Z")
They asked if I wanted to try Microsoft live mail beta. I said sure. But I tried to send an email and I can’t find my contacts. So I opt out and go back to hotmail. My contacts remain disappeared. What is the story here. Have I lost my entire contact list permanently?
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### Author:  [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-hotmail-done-to-my-contacts/349470/2 "2006-03-22T19:30:13Z")
Never mind, it just mysteriously re-appeared. I really need to start using my gmail account more.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2006, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-hotmail-done-to-my-contacts/349470/3 "2006-05-18T11:06:03Z")
You got asked if you wanted to try it? Hey, mine got changed all by its lonesome. Now, I didn’t lose my contact lists, so that’s a major plus.
The minus, you ask? Why, I just can’t access any of the e-mail functions. Can’t read it, can’t write it, can’t review it, can’t search it, just can’t do anything with it. There is, of course, that “helpful” little announcement when I log into the hotmail messenger that I have _x_ number of e-mail in my inbox. Why bother telling me that when I can’t use it?
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2006, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-hotmail-done-to-my-contacts/349470/4 "2006-05-18T11:24:45Z")
Why can’t you?
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2006, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-hotmail-done-to-my-contacts/349470/5 "2006-05-18T12:07:50Z")
For the simple reason that the Live Mail does not permit it.