Word 2013 is crashing when attempting to open OneDrive files

Here is how I managed to fix the problem for me. I am using Windows 8.1 which is an upgrade from Windows 8.

First, go to Programs under Control Panel and remove any installation of Onedrive/Skydrive you might have. Some users said this sorted out all problems but for me it wasn't enough.

The next step I had to do is to use the Onedrive app that comes with Windows 8.1. For that I had to associate my Windows Account with a Microsoft Account. After that I configure my Onedrive to have all files available online only by default (which is my preferred method) and I proceeded to immediately disconnect this stupid [*] Microsoft Account integration and return to having my local account. I tested and now Word no longer crashes when trying to open files directly from Onedrive.

[*] One thing about Windows 8.1 that I despise is this annoying attempt of forcing users over and over again to associate their account with a Microsoft Account. This is particularly a pain if you want to use the built-in Onedrive app that comes with Windows 8.1 -- you can't use it otherwise! I find this extremely inconvenient for several reasons and I hope MSFT will get a grip for the next version of Windows.

How do you associate the OneDrive app with your Microsoft Account? When I open the app, nothing happens--just the splash screen. Then how do you configure Onedrive app to have all files available online only by default?

As I said (and I quote) "for that I had to associate my Windows Account with a Microsoft Account". So you must associate your Windows Account to a Microsoft Account (under Setting --> Accounts).

This is an infuriating feature brought by MSFT which I personally find grotesque. However it is necessary to run the OneDrive App on Windows 8.1. After you run it once this should be enough to fix the issue. Then you might disconnect your Windows Account from your Microsoft Account (which I did).

But OneDrive app opens only to a splash screen--nothing whatsoever is available. OneDrive.com has Settings, Options.

You are not reading what I am saying :-)

As I said before, what you must do first and foremost is link your Computer Account with your Microsoft Account. Read the instructions on the OneDrive splash screen. It says exactly that.

If you then open OneDrive, the app will work correctly. For me this fixed the crashing of Word when trying to open files directly from onedrive.com.

After that, since I don't care for this moronic and draconian integration with Microsoft Account, I remove the integration. This disabled the onedrive app on my PC (the ability to cache onedrive.com files on my computer - like dropbox does). However I don't care for it as I only use onedrive directly from Office applications (which is the main issue of this forum post) and that got fixed with the steps I mentioned above.