Using Skydrive Account with Windows 8.1

I've recently upgraded to Windows 8.1. My desktop app no longer works. The Skydrive app requires that I sign in with my Microsoft account on the computer, however I use a local account to sign in. Is there a way to sign into Skydrive separately? I use it often and prefer to have access to it outside of the web browser. If this is no longer an option with 8.1, how do I revert to 8? So far not impressed, new install has only created issues and I am having to spend too much time getting things back to the way that I had them before...Any help is appreciated. Thx.