With Windows 8 we are given a new choice on the type of account to create.. Microsoft Account.  In the past consumers were only offered a local account.  With a Microsoft Account (A.K.A. Windows Live ID) the end users will be able to take advantage of some new syncing features between multiple Windows 8 applications, SkyDrive and Office 2013 to name a few.

You might have been like myself and reimaged a notebook or creased a virtual installation and at the time you did not have an internet connection, so you created a local account in hopes that you can convert it to a Microsoft Account…  Well you are in luck.

• Open up the charm menu
• Click on ‘Change PC settings’

• In the PC settings window click on Users
• If you have more then one account, select the account you want to make the switch with. (in this example I am using my lovely Wife’s account)
• Click on ‘Switch to a Microsoft account’

• Enter the (local) password of the users that is being switched.
• Click Next

• Enter the Microsoft account email (live id)
• Click Next

• Enter the password for the Microsoft Account
• Click Next

• Verify the security information for the Microsoft Account
• Click Next

• Congratulations the local account is now a Microsoft account
• Click finish

To switch back from a Microsoft Account to a local account it is the same steps but in the reverse order.