Linking Online IDs with Windows Accounts in Windows 7

Windows 7 gives you the capability to link online IDs with your Windows account. For example, you might link your Windows Live ID with your Windows account. Linking online IDs enables other people to share files with you on a homegroup using that online ID rather than a Windows account. The advantage to other people is that they don’t have to add an account for you on their computers.

Instead, they can use your online ID — such as your e-mail address — to share files with you. Linking your online IDs with your Windows account is a two-step process. First, you add the online ID provider to Windows, and then you link the ID to your Windows account. For example, you first add the Windows Live ID provider to Windows and then link your Windows ID to your Windows account.

Follow these steps to accomplish both tasks:

1. Log in to Windows using the account you want to link; then open the User Accounts object in the Control Panel.

2. In the left pane, click Link Online IDs.

3. Click the Add an Online ID Provider link near the bottom of the dialog box to navigate to the Windows 7 online ID providers Web site.

4. Click the provider for the service you want to link. As I write this, only Windows Live is supported. However, other providers will potentially be supported by the final release of Windows 7.

5. When you click the provider in the list, you should see a download page that will enable you to download and install the ID provider add-on. Follow the instructions provided by the Web site to accomplish that task.

6. After you have installed the online ID provider, navigate back to the User Accounts object in the Control Panel for your account. You should now see the provider listed.

7. Click the Add Linked ID link in the Online ID column. What happens at this point depends on the selected provider. For Windows Live, you enter your Windows Live credentials and sign in. The ID is then linked to your Windows account.

Source of Information : Windows 7 Bible (2009)