Last week I bought a Windows 8.1 laptop from the Microsoft store and set it up using my Hotmail account for login.

Today I had a 4 hour flight with no Wi-Fi service.  When I tried to log on, it told me "Windows is offline, you should use the last password you entered."  I put in my Windows password -- and it would not let me in.  I tried entering it 15 times, I tried rebooting the computer -- nothing would work.  I lost 4 hours of work time because I could not get the machine to let me in using my Microsoft account password while I was offline.

Once I got home and connected to WiFi, I could log in just fine.  But:  is 8.1 really designed to not let me log in when I have no connectivity?  There are many places I take my laptop where I don't have access to WiFi.  How do I fix this? I am an independent consultant who gets paid by the hour, so I literally lost hundreds of dollars when this happens.

JG

You need to enable "airplane mode" when there is no connectivity I am not on a win 8 machine atm but it should be in the network flyout (charm)

Hi JGdca,

"There are many places I take my laptop where I don't have access to WiFi.  How do I fix this?"
If we use the Microsoft account to login,Microsoft account will require Internet connection to verify the account.
However,we can create a local account and login with the local account.
To create a local account,here is a link for reference:
Create a user account
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-hk/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-8

Best regards