Just installed 8.1.  I'm using local accounts.  I'm not a fan of my business files being uploaded to some SkyDrive location out of my control. 

I went to the Windows Store just to look around.  I went to install the first app I saw, Movie Moments or something like that.  I suspect this behvior will be app-independent though.  I was prompted for my "current" password, which is my local account password.  I provided it, then it prompted me to log in with my Microsoft account (online account).  Did so, then went through this process of receivbing an email with a unique 1-time numerical code to enter into the app store to validate yourself and install the app.  All fine so far. 

Then it gets to where it tells me it will "switch to a Microsoft account on this PC", which by the wording of the text on this screen sounds like it will permanently convert me away from using local accounts and instead to using the online Microsoft account. 

I could click Switch or Cancel.  I clicked Cancel, thinking it would bypass this stupid screen and allow me to proceed, but no, it just closed the process off. 

So what I've learned from this is that even to install an app that really has no need to be online (for tracking, usage analysis, all that stupid stuff they created online accounts for in the first place - see Big Data), and yet I appear to be forced. 

Before I proceed I wanted to ask others if there is a way to avoid this.  Perhaps to proceed with the switch, then convert back? 

Also I'm curious if anybody else has a problem with the strategy Microsoft is employing to essentially push people into using their online account system? 

Like IOS when you want apps you need the Apple account to gain access to the apple store Microsoft has a similar system. You have the option to use you local account if you want but you will not gain access to the store. You also lose the ability to sync across devices.

There are some that you install locally that ask if you want them to be available for all users. I am sure you can install an app and be able to access it from online acc or local acc

It is not like iOS at all.  In iOS you can sign into to just the App store and download all the apps you want.  You don't have to sign in the whole device, you don't have to use iCloud just to download apps.  There is no way to just download apps in 8.1 with out converting your local account to a MS account.  Basically, in iOS you can have a "local account" and just sign into the store, not possible anymore with Windows 8.1.

I have a huge problem with this strategy, SkyDrive is now useless on a local account or if you are in a domain.  I've already switched to Google Drive after using SkyDrive for years.  MS is making it pretty easy to stop using MS services these days.  I don't want to sign into my PC with a MS account and I never will, if that means I have to use other third party services  then so be it.

• Proposed as answer by Roger LuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Wednesday, October 23, 2013 3:04 AM
• Marked as answer by Roger LuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Wednesday, November 06, 2013 9:20 AM

It is not like iOS at all.  In iOS you can sign into to just the App store and download all the apps you want.  You don't have to sign in the whole device, you don't have to use iCloud just to download apps.  There is no way to just download apps in 8.1 with out converting your local account to a MS account.  Basically, in iOS you can have a "local account" and just sign into the store, not possible anymore with Windows 8.1.

I have a huge problem with this strategy, SkyDrive is now useless on a local account or if you are in a domain.  I've already switched to Google Drive after using SkyDrive for years.  MS is making it pretty easy to stop using MS services these days.  I don't want to sign into my PC with a MS account and I never will, if that means I have to use other third party services  then so be it.

• Proposed as answer by Roger LuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Wednesday, October 23, 2013 3:04 AM
• Marked as answer by Roger LuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Wednesday, November 06, 2013 9:20 AM

Thanks for the replies all.  Well almost all - colakid I really don't know what you're trying to say but I gather you think I'm some teenager whining.  In fact I am an IT professional running a company that services 100% Microsoft customers, and so my angst, while my own in this thread, is also something my customers will feel when they learn that we will have to completely re-vamp their IT management and data storage strategies and policies (for workgroup-based deployments) just to accomodate Microsoft's need to push everybody to using their online stuff. 

Not only is it bad enough that putting 8.1 on there makes these sudden changes, but also there's the concern that future updates will ":accidently" change some of these settings back.  I've seen this typer of thing happen in the past, so it wouldn't shock me to suddenly find that SkyDrive is now again the default save location after we set it elsewhere.  Anyway, that's conjecture at this point. 

So with all due respect, I may be among the first to complain but I am certain I won't be the last. 

It also happens that I read IT security articles all the time, and often hear about breaches of these online data stores so my paranoia level is higher than the average citizen.  And not to say I know hat Microsoft's intent is, but anybody at the top tier of technologythese days is getting into big data, and there's no reason to think MS would not be among them. 

Ok reall quick about some of the other replies:

Definitely this experience is not like iOS.  Similar, but not the same.  The entire PC and everything you do on it is subject to the mercy of your online account.  And I haven't even looked into cached credentials and offline files in 8.1 but I wonder how that has been addressed? 

Anyway, can't spend a lot more time on this subject today but definitely am not a fan of 8.1 at this stage for my own use, and will have to really evaluate the pros and cons before recommending it to any of my customers.    

Curious:  how does 8.1 Enterprise handle this subject? 

Now on a positive note, one challenge for small business data storage is that without a server, a customer has no way to back up per-PC data so a SkyDriv eaccount per PC can be an idea.  But then it is completely unmanagable from an IT perspective so needless to say, IT people like me have to wonder. 

Perhaps I missed the issue here. I understand privacy is an issue and should be taken very seriously but from the sound of it you are already using your Microsoft account to access the store and have configured local user accounts.

If the issue is that Windows is forcing you to move from your local account to just your Microsoft account, that's not entirely accurate. You can connect your Microsoft account to your local account and keep one and the same. I actually do that with my domain account and my Live ID. See the attached screenshots.

In lieu of being able to take screens myself, if you can, on a non-domain system with Win 8.1 Pro (in my case, an upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1 via the 3.6GB download), go to the Windows Store and try to install Movie Moments.  I suspect this would be the same stuff for any app but that's the one I tested with. 

During the process you rea inteed asked to log into the store with your Live account which is fine, but a little later during the install of the app itself, you are informed you must switch your computer to using a Live account.  The two buttons are Switch, or Cancel.  There's no mention of it linking accounts. 

Until I understand what's going on under the hood more, I consider this forcing of account switching unacceptable.  Non IT people probably won't care or know teh difference.  I'm still wondering abuot he authentication mechanisms, for example does it used cached credentials.  Obviously it must since if I lose miy Internet connect, what, I can'tlog into my device?  Unlikely methinks so odds are it uses cached credentials.  So, a simple hack of my local SAM database or whatever it's called and somebody has access now to my entire online presense.  Great. 

Sorry, I do read security articles - Irealize most people don't and have no idea whatsoever how vulnerable they are and how the more we shove ourselves into the cloud the worse it gets.  In some respects anyway.  I'm actually excited to learn more about this stuff and use it, at a user level, but definitely do not like how it seems to work from an IT level, nor do I like MS's posture on forcing you to switch.  No reason I cant' grab an app simply by logging into the store, installing it, and logging out.  Why does my PC have to be entirely integrated with the online account system?  That's my point.  :)

• Proposed as answer by rockandroller Monday, November 11, 2013 10:25 AM

In lieu of being able to take screens myself, if you can, on a non-domain system with Win 8.1 Pro (in my case, an upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1 via the 3.6GB download), go to the Windows Store and try to install Movie Moments.  I suspect this would be the same stuff for any app but that's the one I tested with. 

During the process you rea inteed asked to log into the store with your Live account which is fine, but a little later during the install of the app itself, you are informed you must switch your computer to using a Live account.  The two buttons are Switch, or Cancel.  There's no mention of it linking accounts. 

Until I understand what's going on under the hood more, I consider this forcing of account switching unacceptable.  Non IT people probably won't care or know teh difference.  I'm still wondering abuot he authentication mechanisms, for example does it used cached credentials.  Obviously it must since if I lose miy Internet connect, what, I can'tlog into my device?  Unlikely methinks so odds are it uses cached credentials.  So, a simple hack of my local SAM database or whatever it's called and somebody has access now to my entire online presense.  Great. 

Sorry, I do read security articles - Irealize most people don't and have no idea whatsoever how vulnerable they are and how the more we shove ourselves into the cloud the worse it gets.  In some respects anyway.  I'm actually excited to learn more about this stuff and use it, at a user level, but definitely do not like how it seems to work from an IT level, nor do I like MS's posture on forcing you to switch.  No reason I cant' grab an app simply by logging into the store, installing it, and logging out.  Why does my PC have to be entirely integrated with the online account system?  That's my point.  :)

• Proposed as answer by rockandroller Monday, November 11, 2013 10:25 AM

I was prompted for my "current" password, which is my local account password.  I provided it, then it prompted me to log in with my Microsoft account (online account).  Did so, then went through this process of receivbing an email with a unique 1-time numerical code to enter into the app store to validate yourself and install the app.  All fine so far.

Just like you, I missed the little sentence at this first step "Sign into each app separately instead (not recommended)"

(or I was blind yesterday as I looked for this option)

It allows to connect a Microsoft Account to the Windows Store only which makes sense for administrator account as I don't need my administrator account uses a strong password as my online account (I am using a standard account most of the time).

In this way, I can at least edit the "app updates" setting because I prefer to be informed when an app is updated especially when I am waiting for a bug fix.

• Proposed as answer by Joey Jackson Friday, October 03, 2014 1:16 AM

I was prompted for my "current" password, which is my local account password.  I provided it, then it prompted me to log in with my Microsoft account (online account).  Did so, then went through this process of receivbing an email with a unique 1-time numerical code to enter into the app store to validate yourself and install the app.  All fine so far.

Just like you, I missed the little sentence at this first step "Sign into each app separately instead (not recommended)"

(or I was blind yesterday as I looked for this option)

It allows to connect a Microsoft Account to the Windows Store only which makes sense for administrator account as I don't need my administrator account uses a strong password as my online account (I am using a standard account most of the time).

In this way, I can at least edit the "app updates" setting because I prefer to be informed when an app is updated especially when I am waiting for a bug fix.

• Proposed as answer by Joey Jackson Friday, October 03, 2014 1:16 AM

Nifty!  Ok I'll revisit that stuff, haven't touched it since posting originally. 

You really must tell me, what do you use to make those very handy highlight and zoom boxes linked with the dots and all that?  Is that Snagit? 

• Edited by viProCon Thursday, October 24, 2013 8:30 PM

Nifty!  Ok I'll revisit that stuff, haven't touched it since posting originally. 

You really must tell me, what do you use to make those very handy highlight and zoom boxes linked with the dots and all that?  Is that Snagit? 

• Edited by viProCon Thursday, October 24, 2013 8:30 PM

You really must tell me, what do you use to make those very handy highlight and zoom boxes linked with the dots and all that?  Is that Snagit? 

I havne't tried this, but the solution to this issue seems to be here, in the article titled

Quick Tip: Change Microsoft live to a local account in Windows 8.1

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-change-microsoft-live-to-a-local-account-in-windows-81/

I'm not bothering because I'm going to wipe the system anyway and put 8.1 Enterprise on it.  But if this helps anybody else I'll be glad for that. 

From what I've read/researched/experienced so far is that in order to setup windows 8.1 and avoid being forced to sign into your Microsoft account just to log into your PC you must disconnect from the internet during setup.

But what if you didn't know to disconnect from the internet during setup?

Well I went the route of trying to change it to a local account after setup and the frustrating part is that I do not have the option to change it to a local account. I can create a new administrator account and I see the option to set it up as a local account but why should I have to do that. I can't even get to the screen that will allow me to log out of my Microsoft account. With windows 8 I didn't have this problem. Apple sucks so Microsoft should not strive to be like them. 

Now my only option is to create a new administrator account and set it up as a local account and delete the Microsoft account that I can't seem to log out of or change to a local account...CRAZINESS!!!  User-friendly; I think not. Now I'm going to lose all of my files when I delete the Microsoft account or I'll have to reinstall windows 8.1 which takes forever to download even with a decent internet connection. 

• Edited by SteveProgress Friday, November 15, 2013 1:58 AM Frustrated

From what I've read/researched/experienced so far is that in order to setup windows 8.1 and avoid being forced to sign into your Microsoft account just to log into your PC you must disconnect from the internet during setup.

But what if you didn't know to disconnect from the internet during setup?

Well I went the route of trying to change it to a local account after setup and the frustrating part is that I do not have the option to change it to a local account. I can create a new administrator account and I see the option to set it up as a local account but why should I have to do that. I can't even get to the screen that will allow me to log out of my Microsoft account. With windows 8 I didn't have this problem. Apple sucks so Microsoft should not strive to be like them. 

Now my only option is to create a new administrator account and set it up as a local account and delete the Microsoft account that I can't seem to log out of or change to a local account...CRAZINESS!!!  User-friendly; I think not. Now I'm going to lose all of my files when I delete the Microsoft account or I'll have to reinstall windows 8.1 which takes forever to download even with a decent internet connection. 

• Edited by SteveProgress Friday, November 15, 2013 1:58 AM Frustrated

Hello,

Do you not have the option to disconnect when you look at accounts under PC Settings?

When I go to my account under PC Settings, then accounts, I have an option to disconnect.

This allows me to remove the Microsoft account association from that account.  I see this option when logged nto the domain with an associated account and with another machine that is not logged onto a domain.  In both cases I can remove the MSA association in that UI.

Starting to regret the day I allowed 8.1 upgrade to my Surface Pro!   

I do a lot of Windows PC stuff on this Surface, but occasionally want to run a Tile app.  With Win8.1, if you are logged on a local machine account, any Tile App pushes you to sign into your Microsoft Live (online) account.  But then the kicker... Win 8.1 "goes under the hood" and wipes out the local ID & password of your current logon, replacing it with your Windows Live ID & password.  I went around this loop three times before I figured out what Microsoft was doing and realized this must be a Windows 8.1 "artifact".    As a result, your are saliently exchanging who-knows-what with Microsoft servers anytime you are logged in and have an internet connection.   Not at all comfortable with this!!!!

And..  that former local login account I had on the Surface was matched to 4 other computers I commonly use (Win 7 and XP) which were set up in simple Peer-to-Peer manner (no home group).  Sharing files/drives then merely required that all of the computers have matching identical local logon accounts.   

peer share with those other computers.  Yall will have to be regenerated..  And the Tile apps must be avoided.

Is there any way I can get Win 8.0 back??

OK THE REAL PROBLEM HERE is that there are two separate scenarios.

Endless posts about how easy it is to switch and acess all you stuff on a local login.

This obviously works for SOME but NOT FOR ALL.

For many of us this is totally broken.

1. a number of the items on the menus that the screen shots and instructions show don't appear.

2. you can't switch back to an existing account but have to create a new one.

3. the new one is an empty account.

SO is there an answer to the situation that no answer has yet addressed (and please don't repeat the answer that has already been repeated a number of times) ?

How does one get to be able to use the system the way it was before downloading that one app from the store??

OK THE REAL PROBLEM HERE is that there are two separate scenarios.

Endless posts about how easy it is to switch and acess all you stuff on a local login.

This obviously works for SOME but NOT FOR ALL.

For many of us this is totally broken.

1. a number of the items on the menus that the screen shots and instructions show don't appear.

2. you can't switch back to an existing account but have to create a new one.

3. the new one is an empty account.

SO is there an answer to the situation that no answer has yet addressed (and please don't repeat the answer that has already been repeated a number of times) ?

How does one get to be able to use the system the way it was before downloading that one app from the store??

This is not entirely true (#3 isn't right). I've just gone through the precess of disconnecting my local account of Microsoft account and the only problem was taht I had to provide a new username. When done that I was able to logon using my local account again even though it seemed a new user due to new username. But all user data was left intact.

What I did next was I renamed my local account back to what it was in Computer management. And I'm back to normal. I can see that my local account uses the renamed username if I try to set some security settings on a securable object (i.e. folder or file). I can see my user to be machineName\userAccountName. So it worked.

I was in the midst of a rebuttal as I had tried the steps you describe multiple times in the past without success - i.e. #3 was what happened every time - including minutes before my post on the 8th.

But, I thought I should try again before I fired off my rebuttal and I have to tellyou that it worked this time!!

So I guess MS must have fixed something somewhere either online or via updates.

What did NOT work before did work this time.

So I am grateful that you should have prompted me to try again and hopefully others may also succeed now where they could not before.

I completely agree with your concern. I also dislike this policy from Microsoft. I have been a happy user of W7 for many years. After I bought a new notebook that came with W7 home edition, I used the opportunity to switch to W8 Professional for a very good price. (I have W7 Pro on all my other machines). 

Right from the start I disliked W8 with its "split personality" user interface; the good old desktop and the new Modern interface where applications use the whole screen (stupid for professional users if you ask me). But, I continued to use it and used mostly the desktop part. I am a user of Skype which now runs under the Modern interface. Suddenly one day recently I was told to switch to my Windows account when I tried to start Skype.

NO WAY!. I have a domain for my computers and of course I want to my domain accounts. And I don't need Sky Drive. I'm using Dropbox and I'm very perfectly with that. Besides there are many similar services.

I hate Microsofts new policy where they try to force user into their total control.

This was the drop that will make me switch back to W7. When it gets too obsolete, I will have to look at some something in the Linux family.

I agree with all the posts here about this backward Microsoft Policy. It is unacceptable ! I don't know what it will take for Microsoft to listen to their customers. I have wasted probably a couple of hours trying to find a way to keep  my local address and sign only to the store. But so far having followed several of the tips in the post Microsoft still attempts to take control of my laptop by switching access to my laptop with their email address. That's one of the reason people are switching very fast to Android. And the moment that Android goes as desktop many MS customers will go with Android. ... then maybe Microsoft will listen ... 

Dear Jessica,

I have tried the proposed solution to connect my local account to MS account on both MS Windows 8.1 Pro and Enterprise and the outcome is always the same - on the procedure end it force you to SWITCH to MS account; I've documented it here Windows App Store cannot be used if local account is used to log to Windows 8.1

That is very frustrating...

• Edited by GoranStepic Tuesday, August 05, 2014 3:18 PM

Dear Jessica,

I have tried the proposed solution to connect my local account to MS account on both MS Windows 8.1 Pro and Enterprise and the outcome is always the same - on the procedure end it force you to SWITCH to MS account; I've documented it here Windows App Store cannot be used if local account is used to log to Windows 8.1

That is very frustrating...

• Edited by GoranStepic Tuesday, August 05, 2014 3:18 PM

Hi Bob,

No luck at all.

When I try to login, the procedure starts immediatelly for SWITCHING the account - have tried also creating new account; it is always forcing to SWITCH.

If I try to use the option "Sign into each app separately insted (not recommended)" than there is never ending loop.

It's pretty clear to me the Microsoft App Store is doomed to failure, just like every other similar initiative (thinking of Gadgets, or the Windows Live Gallery, for example).  So why bother trying to run Apps?

The best answer appears to be to find all the functionality you need in desktop applications and avoid Apps.  Disabling UAC helps, as with the EnableLUA flag cleared you can't run Apps at all on Windows 8.1.  That's a nice bonus.

At this point, what developer in their right mind would release a serious application for distribution only via the Microsoft App Store?

I finally got to that step and it still works as I said. I just took the option to sign into each app separately is all I did and everything works without switching to a Microsoft account.

And as for the worth of the new apps or of turning off UAC, I disagree big time with Noel, but he knows that already. <g>

I finally got to that step and it still works as I said. I just took the option to sign into each app separately is all I did and everything works without switching to a Microsoft account....

To be honest, I had to create the VM with 8.1 with MS login so I can test my apps. Works for HTML5/CSS based but of course very limited for apps with system calls like accessing camera.

Never than less, obviously very few users here in the forum are able to have local login and MS account connected to that one or to login to each app separatelly. Tha vast majority, me inclusive, are not able to do that. Are there any MS engineers and support people here in forum?

I know this is an old thread, but just in case anyone happens across it, instead of the incorrect answer below I thought I'd provide the correct one.

In no way do you have to switch to an online account when using any windows 8 apps.  just click the option further down that says something along the lines of 'Sign into apps individually'.  This way you can log into each app (mail, store, skype, etc) without converting from a local account.

The lesson here is read the text on the screen before clicking or typing.

Best wishes.

• Proposed as answer by Joey Jackson Friday, October 03, 2014 1:12 AM

I know this is an old thread, but just in case anyone happens across it, instead of the incorrect answer below I thought I'd provide the correct one.

In no way do you have to switch to an online account when using any windows 8 apps.  just click the option further down that says something along the lines of 'Sign into apps individually'.  This way you can log into each app (mail, store, skype, etc) without converting from a local account.

The lesson here is read the text on the screen before clicking or typing.

Best wishes.

• Proposed as answer by Joey Jackson Friday, October 03, 2014 1:12 AM

 You have the option to use you local account if you want but you will not gain access to the store. 

Joseph Ndlovu

You can actually use the store with a local account in 8.1, but you cannot use the full version of Onedrive. (at least on Win 8.1 Pro) Instead of trying to link your Microsoft account, just go into the store and sign in, refusing to convert to a Microsoft account all the way.  They don't make it easy, but its doable.  If you get to a place that wont let you get by, just select create Microsoft account, and on that screen there's a keep using local account setting. You might actually have to sign into specific apps with your Microsoft account this way, but it at least lets you do it. I really hate that Microsoft has made it so tough to use a local account, but it's all still doable.

It's a situation where the screen is presented in a way that makes you think you need to take one of the two main entries given, when what you want to do is to follow the third, smaller/dimmer option.  Take the time to read everything when making important choices you cannot undo easily!

You're never given this option?

Hi Noel,

Thank you very much for your effort helping to clarify.

I have tried that option and it does not work, see above my reply to Bob from August 5th 2014.

Regards,

Goran

I guess that must be close to the root of the problem, then.  You're supposed to be given an opportunity to log in using a Microsoft account, even though that account is not what you're running Windows with.  I admit to having little experience with Metro/Modern apps.

While testing Win 10 with a local account on a test VM last night I did manage to get Metro/Modern Skype into a never ending loop, but that may be unrelated.  I have an old Skype ID that's not a Microsoft account.  It wouldn't accept either.  So far, there's still a "Skype for Desktop" available that does accept my old Skype ID, and that's the one I'd prefer to use anyway.

Best of luck getting this resolved.

I don't know what's going on with it not allowing to sign in to each program separately and using a local account, I've never seen the loop behavior, it just "works" here on all the PC's I've tried it with.  With Windows 10 too, both the normal and enterprise client.

I suppose if there is a problem with the profile of the Microsoft account, that could be confusing things.  I'd try creating a different Microsoft account and seeing if it does the same.

So do I belong into the group of people for whome the "Sign into each app separately instead (not recommended)" is ending into an infinite loop. And I'm frustrated by this as well, I've spent many hours by experimenting and searchin on web.

However, in the Event Viewer I've found that each attemp of clicking on the "Sign into each app separately instead (not recommended)" link is ending with an error (as I have an non-English Windows 8.1 installation, I'm rephrasing its text only):

Application Error, The application CredentialUIBroker.exe failed in module DUI70.dll. Exception code 0xc0000005, Exception offset 0x000000000000277d. And in the related Windows Error Reporting, there's Event name APPCRASH,

P1: CredentialUIBroker.exe
P2: 6.3.9600.16384
P3: 5215f313
P4: DUI70.dll
P5: 6.3.9600.17031
P6: 53086a1c
P7: c0000005
P8: 000000000000277d

plus several referred files including memory dumps.

Can anyone deduce from this information what the problem is? I guess the others might have seen in the Event log the same error if they looked there.

Thank you,

          Martin.

hi Martin

looks like you have a corrupt DUI70.dll in the SYS32 folder try run sfc /scannow, hopefully that should fix the problem

Unfortunately, the sfc scan finished without finding anything. Actually I expected that as this is the case with other discussions that I got when googling "dui70 c0000007". Moreover, the system32\dui70.dll is binary the same as the file in C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-dui70_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17031_none_48a6021fd1ec17dd. Unfortunatelly, most people ended with system reinstallation, I have found none who succeeded to fix that.

To be sure that the file is not corrupted, can anyone check the hash?

dui70.dll, ver. 6.3.9600.17031
MD5: A5BFF3597F39015F18AC756F2B475D58
SHA1: 7DEB6206DB830ED56690DC77C86738D557BAEAE8

Windows 8.1 Home, ver. 6.3.9600

Hi Martin

Thanks for getting back with more detail here is a link to a similar issue, which is based around the video adapter

Morphological Filtering

Thank you for the link. However, I do not have AMD processor nor graphics.

According to the Event log, my first problem occured suddenly on 9th November exactly at 16:00. A coincidence? And since then there were many different errors in the log, not just this one. It's rather strange when considering that the computer is brand new, and I had installed only a handful (up to 10) of proven applications till then. And I didn't do any invasive configuration changes either.

Anyway, instead of spending another hours and hours by figuring out what's happening, I decided to reinstall the computer from scatch. That was easy because I didn't have there any user data, had only a few installed applications, and could restore into factory settings. For now, there are no similar problems yet.

• Edited by Xarx Tuesday, November 11, 2014 10:20 PM

Thank you for the link. However, I do not have AMD processor nor graphics.

According to the Event log, my first problem occured suddenly on 9th November exactly at 16:00. A coincidence? And since then there were many different errors in the log, not just this one. It's rather strange when considering that the computer is brand new, and I had installed only a handful (up to 10) of proven applications till then. And I didn't do any invasive configuration changes either.

Anyway, instead of spending another hours and hours by figuring out what's happening, I decided to reinstall the computer from scatch. That was easy because I didn't have there any user data, had only a few installed applications, and could restore into factory settings. For now, there are no similar problems yet.

• Edited by Xarx Tuesday, November 11, 2014 10:20 PM

I am absolutely in support of dropping back to an older OS if the current one doesn't meet your expectations and the old one does everything you need.

But...

As one who has been running the same installation of Windows 8.1 x64 MCE (upgraded from Pro) since late 2013 with a local account and ZERO usage of any Metro/Modern Apps, I can say that it's not only possible but such a system can be nice to use.  Mine's both purely desktop-oriented and as efficient as ever.

One starts by disabling UAC entirely (via the registry), which ASSURES you it will never be able to run a Metro/Modern toy App.  There are several other things, such as seeking out the remnants of Skydrive/OneDrive, that you can do over time to settle Windows 8.1 down, but after settling into a desktop-only groove it can be a nice, usable setup, and it's current, meaning the latest drivers, security fixes, etc. are there.

I'm just mentioning this to point out that it takes some doing, but it's actually doable.

But hey, if Microsoft isn't taking the OS in the direction you want to go, perhaps it's probably better never to give them any money for it in the first place.

-Noel

Same goes for me and my organization. This is unacceptable.