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

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.

This post explains the exact same scenario I am going through with my Surface RT 8.1 with the exact results. I also have Nokia Lumia table that is also having the exact same issue. Drives were full, had to do a full reset on both devices, can't sign on to Microsoft accounts, can't update or download apps, Windows Update just keeps running but never finds new updates.

Please help.

I was going to say that, but you beat me too it!

So an update for you!

Mine has just found 23 more updates to install.  It was "up-to-date" yesterday and this morning.  I told it to check again, and it sat there checking for about 5 hours.  I got bored with it and restarted it, and low-and-behold, it had updates waiting to install.  The Windows Update window was still checking.

I updated my Surface RT a few days ago because it was nearly full, even though I had removed all the apps.  Since then, it has not let me sign into a Microsoft Account.

I have managed to sign in to the Store so I can install apps, but it will not connect to a microsoft account.  It seems to be the original version of Win8.1, has not updated to the version where you can move your mouse to the top of the app and get the Close button dropping down.

It is currently installing 12 of 23 updates.

I will let you know how I get on.

That's actually how Windows RT works. You can only install apps via the Windows store. That's what makes this error so annoying.

I'm new to Surface and while I don't have a problem with Microsoft creating a "closed shop" in which only apps in their store work on Surface, it does bring home to me even more fully just how huge this MS account bug is for Surface users.  The speed with which Microsoft fixes this will be a clear indication of where Microsoft is at on the service standards scale since this has to be one of the biggest connectivity bugs ever.  I hope Microsoft understands that the longer this drags on, the bigger it gets!

That's actually how Windows RT works. You can only install apps via the Windows store. That's what makes this error so annoying.

Thanks Shelyl.  I'm not sure how you got that to work because I just tried something similar on my Surface and while I could also login to my Microsoft Account from the web browser and even view my account settings, as soon as I selected "store" I was signed out of my Microsoft account and back to the same old "sorry we can't ... ".

Now here's a related issue that is equally irritating.  I decided to try and get an app, just one app, using the browser.  Simple, right.  I mean we download and install apps from the internet often.  Well, I thought to myself what basic, widely used app shall I try.  I decided on Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader.  However, while the Adobe options offered versions for every OS around, there wasn't one for Windows RT!!!!!    Now we're talking about Adobe Acrobat Reader, one of the most widely used and might I say essential apps around.   And there's no version that works on Windows RT??????????  Is this a case in which big software developers like Adobe can't be bothered producing a Windows RT version.  Has Microsoft adopted Apple's business model of creating a closed shop that doesn't work since we can't access their shop. 

What a debacle!