Microsoft 365 Subscriptions

In fourth quarter of 2024, I decided to upgrade my machine and tried out a web only version (freeware) of Microsoft 365.  After some time, I found out that I was not getting the qualities I needed for documentation to be presentable as Microsoft Word and Excel were not usable for print formats.  I decided to buy a Microsoft 365 Business subscription (bought through my domain provider) which allowed me to use my email address attached to me and my website domain.  This allowed me to also download desktop copies of Word and Excel. 

However, I ran into problems with old accounts colliding with my new ones..., for example, Skype for Business, Microsoft Store, and Microsoft Live would constantly appear in my installation admins.  If I attempted to install them, the installation would fail and get stuck i.e, I could not remove them.  Microsoft message pop-ups would state, "You cannot install this on a 'work' account." 

I thought to myself, "Okay, I installed my Windows OS as a "Work Account on my new machine."  This made sense, because I could go to my browser on my new machine and I could go to my old laptop that had absolutely no Microsoft 365 on it and access my Office from my browser profile. 

My old laptop is the only machine that accepts the Windows Live email address i.e., it acts as a Windows Live access service via the 'free' outlook account to which it is attached.  However, now that all these items are separated by Work or Home classification, I keep getting messages that state, "We cannot renew your Microsoft 365 account."  But my Work account should not be attached to Microsoft Live accounts...should it?  After all, it uses Entra ID for access and the subscription is bought through my domain vendor.  Why is Microsoft Support sending me these emails?

My original setup accessed Microsoft Live accounts via the web through my old laptop using my free Outlook email and looked something like the graphic below: