HT204053 iCloud says my Apple ID is valid but it is not an iCloud account. I find how to link on Apple services but it seems to leave me hanging. How do I actually link the 2 accounts? On a Windows 8 PC?

Question

iClound Control Panel says my Apple ID is valid but it is not an iCloud account. How do I link the 2 accounts on a Windows 8 PC with iTunes 11. I go to Apple services and it gives some instructions; but they leave me hanging. They tell me to put in the same user name and then just stop. Doesn't say what to do next. I did what it said and the 2 accounts are still not linked. Anyone know how to assist? Thank you.

Answer 1

Apple isn't trying to be anti-PC with this; they support PCs going all the way back to Vista SP2, a 3-generation old version of Windows.  To sync iCloud with a Mac you have to be running one of the last 2 versions of the OS X operating system (i.e., a newer version than you do on Windows).  I assume it's set up this way because it's a service provided customers purchasing Apple devices that utilize iCloud syncing services, and if you happen to also you own a PC, it will sync with that as well.  It wouldn't make sense for them to provide this service, including a free 5GB iCloud account, hosting for backups, syncing services, free photo stream, etc. for non-Apple customers (who, for example, may only own a PC).
If you have a friend with one of these devices who is willing to let you create the account on their device, you could then use it on your PC.  They would have to delete the existing account from their device in Settings>iCloud, then let you sign in with your ID to create a new account, then delete this account from their device and sign back into their own account.  You could then use this ID to sign into the newly created account on your PC.  Note: each device can only create 3 iCloud accounts, so you would be using one of their 3 alotted accounts, but they may be willing to do this for you.
iCloud is really designed to keep your data in sync across multiple devices that you may own, and with your computer.  It will also automatically back up your device, stream photos taken on one device to all your other devices, and allow you to locate a misplaced device using Find My iPhone.  It doesn't, however, sync music if that's what you're looking for.
If you want to be able to access your music from iCloud you don't need an iCloud account for this.  As mentioned earlier, music purchased from the iTunes store is already available in iCloud.  Music from other sources, such as in your case, can only be accessed from iCloud if you subscribe to iTunes Match (see http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/).  If you do, you can then upload your iTunes library (up to 25,000 songs) to iCloud an access them from an iOS device via iCloud, even without an iCloud account.  Music purchased from other sources that is copy protected (contains DRM) is not eligible and will not be uploaded to iCloud so be sure your music purchased from Amazon doesn't contain DRM before subscribing.