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:
- 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
- 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
- Internet Explorer only displays a message "cannot display the page".
- 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