When I first started using Windows 8, I didn't think using a "Microsoft account" to log into my computer was such a good idea (and it probably still isn't) but I gave it a shot just to see what it did. I only planned to use it for a day or two. That was, oh, 180 days ago. The ability to sync my desktop with my other computers is a favorite feature.
However, there is one drawback when you do this: you can't use BCM with a shared BCM database on a SQL Server. BCM uses your windows logon to authenticate you with the BCM database and you can't make a Windows logon on the server that uses the Microsoft account address.
The address I use with the Microsoft account is also the email address for an account in the domain with the SQL server, yet sharing the BCM database with this user doesn't work either (both accounts use the same password).
If you need to access a shared BCM database on SQL server, you can't use a Microsoft account to log into your computer. You'll need to use a local account.
If you are sharing a database between two Windows 8 computers, you can use Microsoft Accounts and share the BCM database. The Microsoft Account authenticates correctly, since both computers are using the same account. Only shared databases on a SQL server is affected.
I have had many of the same problems getting BCM to work. After a clean install I can get BCM to work once but usually the second time, it seems to corrupt the profile and then it won't work any longer. I have worked at it for many days and am frustrated. I have tried finding someone to help but all the Microsoft Partners want to sell Microsoft Dynamics CRM and won't help with BCM. Is there anyone out there that can help with BCM? I don't mind paying for it, just need someone that knows how to get it installed and working.
I offer private support via gotomeeting. Do you get any error messages? What addins do you have installed?
Is there a work around here? Could I maybe send my contacts in BCM from my other windows 7 computer to my Office 365 account? It seems funny that windows 8 and Office 365 were made to make syncing things easy and yet this has made it very hard indeed.
No, sorry, at this time there is no a workaround when you use a Microsoft account. You need to use a local account instead.
Is your Office 365 account an office-only subscription or does it include hosted exchange email (and possibly SharePoint)? There are methods for sharing contacts via both exchange and SharePoint. It doesn't have the other BCM features, since its basically just contacts. But its easily shared if you don't need all of the BCM features.
So there is not workaround avaliable? not even now?
I did manage to make it work with local user accounts, but I am really attached to my Microsoft Account.
On the other hand, do you know a way of converting a Microsoft Account to local?
The only way to use it with a windows account is if you use the same windows account on all computers, which is only desirable if you are sharing with your other computers. Switching to a local account is fairly simple - PC Settings > Accounts > Your Account > Disconnect. In every system I've tested this on, it kept everything intact, including saved web passwords. A guy did it as I talked him through it over the phone and it created a new account - I don't know what he did, but he had 2 accounts under C:\Users, so the old account wasn't erased.