I need a way to download my contact list from my phone to my computer. I have a Microsoft windows laptop.

You cannot just pull your contacts from the iPhone to a computer like that. Are you using iCloud for Contacts? There is a 3rd party app that I use called MCBackup Pro that allows you to create a .cvs or vcard file of your contacts and you can email it to an account you have access to on the computer. The .cvs file is readable by Excel.

If your contacts are related to icloud, go to iCloud.com > Select Contacts > Click a single contact > Click the gear in the bottom left of the screen > Choose Select ALL > Click Gear again > export > choose your option to continue..

you can do it by itunes do backup to your laptop