Why can't I connect one Windows 8.1 PC to other Windows 8.1 PCs in my workgroup when using a Microsoft Account?

I finally decided to convert some of my local accounts to Microsoft Accounts on my Windows 8.1 PCs. Big mistake to this point.

I have two PC's with the same Microsoft Account set up, neither PC can browse to the other or map a drive through browsing.

I'm not using a homegroup. My daughter has one setup on her laptop and desktop, and I don't want my PC's on her homegroup. Until Microsoft makes it possible to have 2 homegroups on the same subnet, this is not an option.

The local accounts on both PC's have no problem browsing, mapping, etc. I can connect to the other PC's just fine using local accounts, so I know physical connectivity isn't an issue, neither is my anti-virus or really anything else system wide on either computer. 

I just can't attach automatically using a Microsoft Account. I have to manually map a drive every logon/reboot.

I have also found that running a logon script doesn't work. The drives will not map automatically.

The Microsoft Account users can map a drive using "Connect using different credentials." However, the credentials don't hold across reboots.

I can manually (using either a Microsoft Account or a local account) map a drive using "net use" which then opens up all of my mapped drives and allows for browsing to the other PC. However, this doesn't work across reboots/logons either.

Entering credentials in the Credentials Manager (Whether I use the Microsoft Account credentials or one of the local user credentials) doesn't work across reboots either.

Yes, I have the same Microsoft Account setup on both PCs. I have tried giving them both Admin and Standard user rights on both PCs.

I have turned off UAC as recommended in some posts.

Again - This problem is ONLY related to MICROSOFT ACCOUNTS, not local accounts.

I have put a batch file on the desktop with a "net use" statement in it to connect as a work around, but this is very annoying and truly unacceptable. Is there anyway to make this work seamlessly without running a batch file or something else where the password exists on the PC in clear text?

I can't find other posts asking this question - am I the only one who is trying to do this? What memo did I miss?

Thanks for any help!

January 19th, 2015 7:57am

Hello Steve Hengen,

I apologize for the delay.

I have test in my own environment and can normally map the network driver when logon as Microsoft account.

Do you check the option Reconnect at logon?
If you use Connect using different credentials, do you check the option Remenber my credentials?

Please take a look at the following article about map a network drive.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-HK/windows-8/create-shortcut-to-map-network-drive

Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN

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January 26th, 2015 11:32am

Yes, of course

And yes, when I've used the "net use" statement, I've included a "/persistent: Yes" in the command.

I have also since tried creating a homegroup and I still can't connect without manually running a net use command from the command line. And I'm getting the same results with multiple Microsoft Accounts.

This makes no sense.

January 31st, 2015 8:35am

you need to reset Windows

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

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February 5th, 2015 12:29pm

I have turned off UAC as recommended in some posts.

Cite?  I would say I have seen the opposite comment more frequently.  For example, it is a common explanation for not being able to use the Store.
February 5th, 2015 1:50pm

Both Computers?

Reinstalling can't be the answer to every question.

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February 11th, 2015 6:28pm

I've turned it back on.

I was just making the point that I've read the small number of articles, I've tried the basic things and even tried some things that don't make sense - like having to reinstall every time you have a problem.

February 11th, 2015 6:30pm

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