Uninstalled successfully — now how do I get back Live and all my files…?

I was unable to add a name to my Windows Live contacts. I read an entry that said I should update Windows Live to get around this problem. When I tried to do so, the "Update" was not available to me, only the uninstall. Upon further reading, it sounded like this would be the way to do this, so I uninstalled Windows Essentials (including Mail, obviously). I assumed (stupidly, admittedly) that the reinstall would reconnect with all my former files and folders and contacts. Now I'm unable to download and install Live at all. I get messages stating that an install is already in progress, I get error message 0X80040607, and I am panicking that I've totally lost all my e-mail on Live -- even though I'm sure it's still on my computer somewhere. Please tell me how I can just get back to the point I was when I started all this. Being unable to update a contact seems like a trivial thing at this point... HELP???!!! I've seen some entries about deleting Live folders via a CMD uninstall, but I would like to ensure that if any of my e-mails/contact info/etc. are still on my disk, I can access them... Please tell me all is not lost.