Problem with Primary Microsoft Account

I am trying to switch from using a Local Account to a Microsoft Account on my recent reinstalled Windows 8 laptop. However, when I use the option 'Switch to a Microsoft account' and then enter my work email address I get the error:

&quotThis email address is associated with a primary Microsoft account. Please use that ID.&quot

I'm guessing that has happened because previously I'd associated my Domain Account with a Microsoft Account this Domain Account has the Exchange mailbox with my work email address. The computer on which I'd done this failed and was unrecoverable, so I'm unable

to check any settings.

I've used the link https://account.live.com/ManageAssocIds and logged in with my personal Microsoft Account and checked that my work email address isn't associated with that, it isn't and I don't have any other Microsoft accounts that I'm aware off. I've also

tried logging in with my work email address at https://account.live.com/ but it tells me that the Microsoft Account doesn't exist.

So what I need, to be able to use my work email address for a new Microsoft Account, is either:

(a) Find out the details of the Primary Microsoft Account to which my work email address is associated

or if that's not possible

(b) have my work email address released/removed from it's association with a Primary Microsoft Account.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

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