My infrequently-used Hotmail account [.co.uk] loaded instantly, full of spam as usual. But my original Hotmail account which had been in force for the past 10 years [.com] has been closed down by Gates henchpersons 'because I hadn't logged in for over a month'. So in the, admittedly unlikely, event that I need these ancient contacts, they're all lost. Thanks, Bill.

Yes, I know you should copy your contacts. I hadn't and this is just a warning that you should if you think you might have long gaps between log-ins.