I have Windows 8.1 but was using Windows Live Mail because Windows Mail is so poor a program.  I suffered that apparently ubiquitous 8.1 boot loop problem and had to refresh my computer, which removed all programs installed from disks and the Internet, including said Live Mail.  Fortunately, I was able to copy everything off the c: drive prior to its being wiped by the Windows Refresh (You would think a boot problem could be fixed without destroying everything else, wouldn't you?).  So I have all the Windows Live files containing all my accounts, contacts, e-mail messages, etc.

    My question is, of course, how to re-install Windows Live now that my Windows boots again and restore to it all these backed-up files so that I'll have everything I had prior to the crash.  Downloading and installing Windows Live again is easy enough, but I don't know how to take advantage of the fact that I've got all the backed-up files from before.  I doubt that I can just copy those into their respective places in the Users and other folders and expect it to work.  But I do suspect that if I know which folders and files to copy into place after I've installed Windows Live, I'll be back up and running with all my messages, folders, contacts, and accounts.

     Can anyone provide instructions for doing this?  Given Windows 8 and 8.1 proclivity for having to be refreshed or restored, I imagine this is not an uncommon problem.

      Thank you in advance for your help.

                                                                           --Robert Randall