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Unable to switch local account to a Microsoft Account. "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. If this problem persists, search for 'network problems' at the Start screen."

Anonymous
2017-09-16T16:10:23+00:00

I recently had some frame rate issues with Windows 10, and done a system recovery which put Windows 8.1 back on my computer. During the inital setup, I had to create a local account because it said an error occured and couldn't connect to Microsoft services. After creating a local account I tried to switch it to my Microsoft account and that's when I got the "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. If this problem persists, search for 'network problems' at the Start screen. I even got the Windows Update error code 80240FFF. After downloading and running both the Windows Update Troubleshooter and Microsoft Account Troubleshooter, I am still getting the same error message. Except now I am able to get the updates for Windows 8.1. While my network connection say's it's a Private Network, I am not on a VPN nor am I behind a firewall. I have tried both wired and wireless connections and still gettting the same error. I have even tried resetting my modem. I have also tried creating a new local account and switching it to my Microsoft Account. Still no luck. I have also done the Netsh Winsock reset in the command prompt as well as doing 3 more system recoveries. I have end checked to make sure that Microsoft Account Services is enabled and set to manual. I am able to access the internet and I am able to log into any Microsoft website via a web browser along with Skype. While I am able to open or run the Microsoft Store or Windows Store app it still says that I need a Microsoft Account to sync everything. I have tried just about everything that I can think of and have found on the internet. I am wondering if I would need to upgrade to Windows 10 and maybe disconnect my account and then do a system recovery again. If anyone has any idea what could be wrong please let me know. Oh one last thing, right before I done the inital system recovery, I was doing a regedit to remove all registry files dealing with Nvidia. I was trying to do a fresh install of the Nvidia drivers for my video card.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-09-17T11:39:43+00:00

    Hi Shannon,

    Error code 80240FFF is related to issues with Windows Update. To better assist you, we suggest that you perform the methods that you haven't done yet on this article about fixing Windows Update issues as this will walk you through a series of steps to get your Windows update.

    Kindly update this thread with the results.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2017-09-21T20:12:24+00:00

    I finally found a fix for my issue. Not sure if this would work for all but it worked for me. Reluctantly I reinstalled Windows 10 and it fixed the issue. Here is what I done. 

    1. I downloaded the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
    2. When it gave me the option to either run it from the hard driver or run it from another device like a USB, I opted for the USB. You will need a USB device with at least 5gbs of free space.
    3. After installing it on the USB, I rebooted the computer, then ran the Setup file on the USB, opting to do the install that would wipe the drive where Windows would be installed.

    After that finished, which my computer rebooted a few times. I had to do the "inital' setup again. This time when I was asked for my account information, everything went throguh and is now working okay. If you have never used Windows 10 before, you may need to install Windows 10 to get around the "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now...." error. I also ran across a reply to this thread " https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8\_1-security-winacc/error-sorry-we-couldnt-connect-to-microsoft/772eded4-88e4-49b1-a6cd-067bc4ef922b "where someone said they spoke to someone from Microsoft and they were told that manage that service are down due to maintenance and didn't know when the maintenace would be finished.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-09-18T04:55:28+00:00

    I have same problem--can't seem to get to the right support!  Did find an error in the event viewer --Event 9010, IIS_APPHOSTSVC  Maybe someone will see this                        Log Name:      System

    Source:        Microsoft-Windows-IIS-APPHOSTSVC

    Date:          9/15/2017 4:05:09 PM

    Event ID:      9010

    Task Category: None

    Level:         Error

    Keywords:      Classic

    User:          N/A

    Computer:      Mary1

    Description:

    The Application Host Helper Service encountered an error trying to access the root history directory 'C:\inetpub\history'.  The directory either doesn't exist or the permissions on it don't allow the history service to access it. The config history feature is disabled for now and will be re-enabled after the issue is resolved. To resolve this issue, please ensure that the directory exists and that the Administrators group have read and write access to it.  The data field contains the error number.

    Event Xml:

    <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">

      <System>

        <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-IIS-APPHOSTSVC" Guid="{CAC10856-9223-48fe-96BA-2A772274FB53}" EventSourceName="APPHOSTSVC" />

        <EventID Qualifiers="49152">9010</EventID>

        <Version>0</Version>

        <Level>2</Level>

        <Task>0</Task>

        <Opcode>0</Opcode>

        <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>

        <TimeCreated SystemTime="2017-09-15T21:05:09.000000000Z" />

        <EventRecordID>3962</EventRecordID>

        <Correlation />

        <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />

        <Channel>System</Channel>

        <Computer>Mary1</Computer>

        <Security />

      </System>

      <EventData>

        <Data Name="Path">C:\inetpub\history</Data>

        <Binary>03000000</Binary>

      </EventData>

    </Event>                                 I need Help!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-09-18T00:36:32+00:00

    This is an update for a list of all the things I have done trying to solve this issue.

    1. Refreshed System, not recovery...already have done that 3 times
    2. Installed as many Windows 8.1 updates that was available. 

        A) No longer getting error code 80240FFF

    1. Check time and date (Time & Date Correct)
    2. Check LAN Settings (Automatitically Detect Settings)
    3. Network Connection Troubleshooting (No Issues Detected)
    4. Pc Settings, Network, Connections, Ethernet

        A) Turned Off Find devices and contect (Making Network Public instead of private as I had listed as before)

    1. Ran Windows Update Troubleshooter

       A) Reset Service Registration  {Fixed}

       B) Repair Windows Update   {Fixed}

    1. Ran Modern UI App Troubleshooter

       A) Microsoft Account Required

       B) Service Registration Missing Or Corrupt {Fixed}

          1) Settings, Change Pc Settings, Accounts/Other Accounts/Add Account

          2) Entered Microsoft Email

             Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. etc, etc

    1. Started/Enabled Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant
    2. Settings, Change Pc Setting, Accounts, Other Accounts, Add Accounts

       A)Entered MSN email address and password, Next

         "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. etc, etc

    1. Control Panel, Credentials Manager

       A) Web Credentials already in place

       B) Windows Credentials None

          1) Entered Windows Credentials

             Internet or Network Address https://login.live.com

             Username

             Password

             Error Code 0x80070057

             Error Message The Parameter Is Incorrect

          2) Changed Internet or Network Address login.live.com

             Windows Credentials Added

          3) Settings, Change Pc Settings, Accounts/Other Accounts/Add Account

          5) Entered Microsoft Email

             Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. etc, etc

    1. Restarted Computer

       A) Ran Services.msc

          1) Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant Not Running but still set to Automatic

          2) Started Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant and set to Manual

    1. Settings, Change Pc Settings, Accounts/Other Accounts/Add Account

          A) Entered Microsoft Email

             Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. etc, etc

          B) Accounts, Your Account, Sign Into A Microsoft Account

             Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. etc, etc

    1. Ran %TEMP%

        A) Select All and deleted

           Same result "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. etc, etc"

    1. Command Prompt (Admin)

        A) netsh winhttp import proxy source=ie

        B) Restart Computer

    1. Command Prompt (Admin)

        A) netsh winsock reset

        B) Restart

           1) Same message "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. etc, etc"

    Not sure what else I can do or try. Any ideas?

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-09-17T13:49:11+00:00

    Hi Rey, I greatly appreicate the help with the Updates Error. I am still not able to put my Microsoft account on the computer. I even tried went to Pc Settings/Accounts/Add Account and I am still getting the "sorry we couldn't connect to Microsoft services". I the only option there was for me was to sign up for a brand new account which i do not want to do as my XBox Live account and is tied into my current account. However I did go the route of signing up for a new account and got in. However I wanted to know if I'd still get that same "couldn't connect to Microsoft services" message if I removed that new account from the computer and tried to re add it. And guess what...when I was trying to re-add the new account that I had just created....I still got the "couldn't connect to Micrsoft services" As I stated earlier, I have run both of the trouble shooters, I have made sure I am not behind a firewall, there is not network connectivitiy issues, I have made sure the Microsoft Account Services is enabled and set to manual, LAN settings is set to Auto Detect, and have reset the netsh winsock and I am not on a VPN. And I still have this issue.

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