App Store: "Your PC isn't connected to the Internet."

I clicked "found this helpful". To do that I had to log in to my Microsoft account - which worked.

I clicked "found this helpful" not because it was helpful but because there's no other option: you can find it helpful or ignore it.

Yet, it was helpful in that it shows that there's no solution for the problems discussed in this thread in spite of all technical talk, suggestions, etc.

In summary, my problems are:

1. I can access the Store and browse, but cannot install any application because the Store wants me to log in to my Microsoft account. That fails because "they" cannot connect to Microsoft services and I am not connected to the internet
2. Under "change PC settings" I cannot change my local computer account into a Microsoft account. It fails for the same reason as under 1) above
3. Internet Explorer only displays a message "cannot display the page".
4. After I reinstalled Win 8.1 and had to reinstalled my Canon print-copy-scan printer, the pre-installed scan application  doesn't work any more (asks to connect a scanner)

The bottom line of this long thread is: there is no solution that is in reach of an ordinary user.

To be fair, I must say that after I first installed Win 8.1 for the first time, it worked very well. After a while (in weeks, months) there occurred problems (the mail, people application didn't want to sync any more, onedrive idem) so that I decided to reset the PC (didn't solve the problems), and after that reinstall Win 8.1 with wiping drive C (didn't resolve the problems)

ADDITION: Just tried this: In the Store, install an application, I choose "sign into each app separately". Next, enter email address of Microsoft account and password, pops up a message "Sorry, there's a problem with the server, so we can't sign you in at the moment. We're working to fix it as soon as we can. Please try again in a few minutes". So I waited a few minutes, tried again, same message. And again and again.

Cheers,

Danker

While the text of the error message says literally "your computer isn't connected to the internet" it's pretty obvious from the length of this thread that a broad range of circumstances can cause this same error message to be displayed.  The message is a catch-all.

I wouldn't jump to many conclusions about nature or quality of network detection algorithms etc.  This appears to be a generic error message the store app shows when it encounters a problem.  Unfortunately, that means it doesn't provide a lot of diagnostic value.

I cannot get your point Robert. There are root DNS servers, several of them if one is down. I don't know how Microsoft coded the check whether the internet is accessible from a client or not. The main problem is that the new method and the classic method can lead to different results, and the store, at least from what I have experienced will only use the new method to check whether you are online or not.

No one forces Microsoft to use a single point of failure for checking a DNS availability in regards of this.

So they could even make several requests, analyse them and give a vague report:

e.g.

1. checking one or several a root-DNS server

• if one of many fails bringing up a message like Internet may have have issues.

2. Checking HA DNS servers of Microsoft, that are also used for the store

• this will determine if the client really has generic internet issues or just Microsoft services are affected.

3. DNS lookup or ping at the client gateway
4. checking proxy availability, if any set

or vice versa.

They could even check this in junction to your region (Windows Location Service) or Regional settings as a last resort.

Anyway, there is no excuse that the store reports you have no internet, while it is properly working, just because the new detection method they introduced with Win 8 fails to give a correct status, may it be unneeded driver incompatibilities alike the AVM WLAN Stick I mentioned or other things, that are out of the sphere of an average user.

I have to question Microsoft, why they are not able to determine it correctly, while internet connection works flawless for any applications including Internet explorer

Admit that the internet connection check of the classic network neighbourhood works very well compared to the new one, which is mostly the root of this thread and problem, given it is not the users "fault" at all.