contacts export not possible - help!

old laptop crashed (Vista), data was saved and new hard disk installed.
Luckily the contacts could be saved (nearly 20 years of work....).
Now I cannot export them anymore as the program simply gets stuck. I can't do anything with them, but use them thru Windows Mail and it takes minutes for emails....
ANyone for help ? I need to export these address to a csv. file so I can work with it.
thanks

Export windows contacts

When you select the contacts file in Windows Explorer there is an export option along the top.

You may have difficulty finding the contacts from the tip in the link. It is sitting under users - username - contacts. Or just type "contacts" in the Start box

thanks for the replies, but it does not work.
I have tried to export the contact to csv or any other option given and also tried to import them to another computer - all thru Windows Live Mail Contacts, but the program stops and this is it - I can restart.
Is there any other way that I can export or use my contacts ?
Can I open these contacts with a different program ? Or import the file to a different program ?
thx again

You need Windows Explorer, NOT Windows Live Mail. Find the contacts list under c:\users\Yana\contacts.

I know where the file is - I need a program OTHER then Windows live mail that I can import the contacts to to work with them.
I can open the contacts on Windows live mail, but I need them in a csv file to work with them. The export to a csv does not work - it crashes.

Note that Windows Explorer "Contacts" is not used by Live Mail. It has it own table. Which is it you are trying to export?

From your post, I guess it is Live Mail?
It seems you are following the correct procedure, but, to recap.
Select, in Live Mail, The "Contacts" (Bottom left in the nav panel)
In the ribbon menu, over on the right, you have the option to import/export as a CSV file, to any chosen location. OK so far?
Further. If you have registered a Live mail login, you should be able to recover them by clicking you Live Mail login and selecting "View account info"

Exactly this part does not work - the program does not export to CSV - too many addresses - and therefore eventually stops/crashes, and I can restart.....

Hmm. You must be a busy fellow. I havn't seen that fault before.
Try and untick all the items except for first name, last name, email. and, maybe, Home address. If it works, I am sorry but you may need to do some editing afterwards to get the info back.

... tried - just with First and Last Name and email.... doesn't work

any other suggestions ? any other program that I could import the contacts to ?