Can't login to Microsoft Account/Reset Surface RT and can't sign in to Microsoft account/Can't connect to Microsoft Services

Try this

Reset your RT from within Windows.  Reset, not refresh.  Connect the RT to charge.

https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/refresh-or-reset-surface-rt#within

One of the pages will ask for a drive encryption key. Go to the bottom of the page and select ‘Not this Drive”

When the reset finishes, in settings go to ‘Power and Sleep’, ‘When plugged in’ set to ‘Never’

All updating is done from the Control Panel, Windows Update.

After each search for updates is complete click on the blue line that says ‘important updates are available’ to see what is found. You can speed things up by hiding all Office updates.  Right click an Office update and select ‘Hide’.    Install all other updates found. 

When Windows updates are all done and Update 3 is installed go back and restore hidden updates and install the Office Updates.

Start Update Instillation Here

Turn on WiFi, Search for updates from the Control Panel, you will see a firmware update, install all Windows updates, restart

When you go back to Windows Update it will show updates are available. Do not install these updates. What you need is KB2919355 and it will not be there.  Stay on the page and search for updates.

Install KB2919355 along with the other updates.  Restart. 

Go to Control Panel, Programs and Features, View installed updates. See that KB2919355 is installed.

Turn off  Wifi,  install KB3173424, restart

 Install KB3172614, restart

 Turn on Wifi, search for updates, should find over 200 updates, install, restart

Turn off Wi-Fi and install KB3097667

After the restart, right-click on Taskbar > Properties, Start Menu.   Check the box, Use the Start Menu instead of the Start Screen for no more metro screen. 

finish installing updates

The Microsoft image that is available to download is the same as the recovery partition on the RT if you have ever had 8.1 installed. The recovery partition never changes after you have 8.1 installed.

KB3173424, KB3172614 and KB3097667 are standalone MSI update installer files that you download to install at the correct time.

Download KB3173424 HERE.

Download KB3172614 HERE.

Download   KB3097667 Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 Standalone Package

I am still stuck at step 4 and 5. many updates failed and no new updates could be found...

Note: The update packages linked down below are for ARM devices (basically for the Windows RT OS)

After contacting Microsoft, and doing research for at least a few weeks, I found a solution to this major problem.

Alright, so I got a permanent solution for the Windows Update searching disaster!

Step 1: Restore your Surface RT with the recovery image from the microsoft website. (optional)

Step 2: Set up your surface and head to Windows update.

Step 3: Search for updates, after 30m-1h you will see a firmware update, press install without modifying the update list.

Step 4: After the installation got succeeded, and your surface rt restarted go ahead and search again for updates.

Step 5: Again you will see a package of updates, this update includes the Windows RT 8.1 Update 1 update (kb2919355).

Step 6: When you finished installing the updates and your surface rebooted again, go to "installed updates" and check if kb2919355 is installed.

Step 7: If not, try to install the updates again. If yes, start searching for updates again.

Step 7B (Read before doing): IF kb2919355 is not installed and you are stuck on the search for updates part please download*THIS** file, turn off your WiFi, install the file by opening it, restart when finished and turn on WiFi*

Step 8: Once Windows Update is searching for at least 4 hours we came at the point where most of us are stuck.

THE SOLUTION

Step 9: Download kb3173424 from HERE.

Step 10: Download kb3172614 from HERE.

Step 11: Turn off your Wifi, and reboot the surface.

Step 12: Install kb3173424 by opening it.

Step 13: Reboot the surface.

Step 14: Install kb3172614 by opening it.

Step 15: Reboot the surface.

Step 16: Turn on your Wifi, start searching for updates and after 10+/- minutes you will see 180+ updates coming your way .

for me work, and this is a solution  offer by xda developer , microsoft engineers probable sleep  !

Still not working.

I could sing into my MS account on my surface RT but cannot download apps from the store (slow internet connection message..... false), and updates will run a neverending search.

FIX THIS SOON PLEASE!!!!

The same is for me. Account ok, update ok, but problems (network performances... not true) when download app's.