LOST CONTACTS AFTER HOTMAIL TO OUTLOOK SWITCH

I LOST ALMOST ALL OF MY CONTACTS AFTER HOTMAIL TO OUTLOOK SWITCH. DID SOME READING AND TRIED TO CLICK ON THE "TO" ABOVE CONTACTS AS WELL AS PEOPLE/ RESTORE CONTACTS. IT DOES NOT WORK, IN PEOPLE IT SAYS THAT I DONT HAVE ANY CONTACTS. I CAN ONLY SEE FIVE FREQUENTLY USED CONTACTS IN OUTLOOK.

I SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PROPER SOLUTION, NEITHER DOES MICROSOFT SEEM TO CARE. I AM READY TO SWITH TO ANOTHER PROVIDER - FREE OR NOT - THIS IS JUST SILLY.