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

Anonymous
2017-09-20T09:31:56+00:00

I have reset my Surface RT before. Being an IT professional, I have installed Windows 7/8/10 multiple times. Just reset my Surface RT to default settings. I am trying to set it up for my daughter. She has a hotmail account already (uses it on our other computers). When I try to sign her in when setting up Windows after the hard reset I get an error that it can't connect to Microsoft Services and i should check my network settings. I created a local account thinking it must be something during setup. I tried again via the Store app and I receive the same error. I have an internet connection so.... That's not the problem. It is clearly something on Microsoft's end. Creating a new account isn't an option as she is using her current account on our home PC and needs to utilize OneDrive. Is there an image that has Surface RT Update 3?

Surface | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-09-22T19:02:02+00:00

    Hi,

    We understand the importance of connecting your Microsoft account to your Surface device. We are aware about the issue and now working to fix it. In the meantime, you can continue using the local account and try to reattach the Microsoft account at a later time. You may also check this thread as we will post an update regarding the issue here.

    Feel free to post back if you have any other inquiries.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-09-22T16:43:50+00:00

    Hi Carlos,

    We know how important it is for you to maximize the use of your Surface RT. However, please be informed that we are aware of this issue and our support engineers are working on it to ensure that this won't happen again. With regards to this, we suggest that you use a local Windows login account for the meantime. You may access your device via Microsoft account at a later time.

    Should you have any other concerns, feel free to response back.

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  3. Barb Bowman 80,805 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-09-22T09:44:32+00:00

    MVP's and Community Moderators and unpaid volunteers and are customers just like

    you. I've been sending email on this issue since it started. The Surface people

    don't seem to be able to get an answer from the Windows people on this.

    I'm doing the best I can.

    >>I have had this issue for more than 24hours now  and its becoming irritating. I can't do much with the device and I'm thinking of returning it.

    >>

    >>

    >>

    >>Please, what's your ETR? so I won't waste my time trying to sign in every hour.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-09-21T23:20:26+00:00

    Hello, when would this be resolved?

     I just got a new Surface RT, only to find out I can't sign in to my Microsoft Account. Getting the error below;

    "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. If this problem persists, search for 'network problems" on the Start screen."

    I can affirmatively tell you my network is not the issue.

    I have had this issue for more than 24hours now  and its becoming irritating. I can't do much with the device and I'm thinking of returning it.

    Please, what's your ETR? so I won't waste my time trying to sign in every hour.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-09-21T23:03:45+00:00

    A few days ago I did a full reset of my Surface RT.  The problem was that the Windows directory on the main drive had grown to over 21gigabytes.  With a 32Gig drive, and all the other space taken, I only had 3 gigs to do anything.  

    Since attempting the reset, I have been unable to log in to my Microsoft Account through the Surface.  It always takes me to the same page where it states it couldn't connect to Microsoft services.

    Some information about what I did, and what it can and can't do.

    I did one full reset, and it seemed to work, but at some point updates would no longer work.  The last update it said it had was from 2014, and I knew there were many more.  It was still on the internet, I could view web pages, slowly, but Updates wouldn't happen.  I let it sit for a day "Checking for updates", and finally gave up.

    I attempted another full reset.  On this reset, very early in the process, after connecting to Wifi, you are supposed to log in to your Microsoft account, and it couldn't.  I got an error message that it "couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now", and it forced me to create a new local account to proceed.  Note that on the first attempt, this had worked.  I created the local account, and from this point everything continued to work.  I have done all the updates up to and including service pack 3.

    It works fairly well:

    Wifi speeds are good, up to 50Mbits/sec download on an internet speed test website.

    It can, and has connected to Microsoft Updates, and done them.

    It has connected to the Microsoft store.  However, since I can't l log in to a Microsoft Account, I can't get anything.

    While I was in the store it prompted a possibility to create a new account, so I tried to do that.  I was able to create a new different account.  However, once I received the PIN on an email (on another computer), entered it into the Surface on the page where it was asking for it, and hit "next"... Up popped the same error,  "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now....."  I assume once it was an official account, it couldn't get to it any more.

    Any help would be appreciated.  The surface works fine, but without apps, its not very useful.

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