adding a new contact's email details

I moved on from my Windows XP with Outlook Express desktop to a Dell Inspiron with Windows 7 that came with Windows Live Mail

for sending/receiving emails. 

Q1. If someone emails me then I can copy their email address into my contacts folder. But if I have an email address

 I cannot find a way of making a new entry in my contacts folder manually. I need to send the person an email, have them return another email to me, then I can add their email address to my list. Can anyone tell me how I can add an email address without all this palaver?

Q2. Secondly, previously I was able to drag email addresses into a GROUP, then send the one email to everyone in this GROUP.

I just cannot find a way of doing this with Windows Live Mail. Thankfully I still kept my desktop going so when I need to send an email to many people

I can still use the desktop. But the anti-virus on it is running out soon and I don't want to have to pay another year's subscription just so I can send one email to several people. Can anyone help?

To anyone who may help, remember I'm not that computer literate, but I did manage very well with my old Outlook Express.