Speak of the devil: After using my laptop for a year and the Windows 8.1 OS with Microsoft Office 2013 installed and running, when I tried to use Word yesterday it popped up a screen saying it needed authentication. I could see files I'd created in it, but it wouldn't open them. I tried various things, entering my product key, etc, and nothing worked.

I spent 2+ hours on the phone with a tech in India who had to use remote desktop to look at my applications then uninstall and reinstall my software. In the process she said she had to set up that Microsoft account. I didn't want to have to log onto my computer with the Microsoft account, but that's how she left it. As soon as she finished I killed that account and went back to my original administrator account with my old password and had to fix my wifi that she'd apparently disabled and now I can use Word (I had to logon with the MS password to use it, but it should stay logged on). Another odd thing - it's a high-end Sony VAIO solid state 64-bit but she had to install a 32-bit version of the software. I'll keep an eye on how it plays with others. I kept the case number for if I have to have them fix something else that was disenfranchised by that intervention.

She couldn't get Outlook to work, and after watching her try many things I told her not to bother because I never use Outlook and I don't use that account for email. I'll set Thunderbird as my default email in there in case it was bumped in the process.

SRS