Outlook Express 6.0 Losing Contacts/error msgs. opening and send

During the last six weeks or so, whenever I install "updates" for my computer (Windows XP), my Outlook Express loses all my contacts, as well as becomes inoperable for opening and sending emails. I get the following messages. "The Address Book failed to load. Outlook Express is incorrectly configured. Please reinstall." Also, "There was an error opening this message. An error has occurred."

I have to keep going back to a System Restore point in order to get my contacts and Outlook Express working properly again, thus I really have no recent updates. I have run a full scan of my computer for malware, viruses, and no infections found. I have experimented staying off the internet before I shut down and run "updates" and still, when I reboot, the same problem occurs with Outlook Express after the updates have been installed.

Installing updates has never been a problem prior to six or so weeks ago. Help, please--does anyone have an answer to solve this problem? Thank you!