You are automatically a silver account when registering for Xbox Live. This can be done one of two ways:
Either you can join Xbox Live online through this website
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/joinlive.htm
or
You can setup a Live account directly from your Xbox 360. If you already registered an account through the website, you should be able to enter the login information through the Xbox.
No credit card information should immediately be needed as well, unless you're upgrading to a gold account.
Go to your account settings and input the code for a gold subscription.
I've added a relate link below on how to upgrade membership, it should help under all circumstances.
When you purchase the family pack it will just automatically add your account to the family gold. Then from there you can add other gamers to the Family Gold Pack.
you don't change email but you can change gamer tag if you got MP (microsoft points) for it
No, an Xbox live silver account does not let you play online.
do you mean points, or the wireless connection?
When you create an account on your console it automatically becomes an Xbox Silver Account (free account). But you can purchase an Xbox LIVE Subscription which you can't get for free.
yes to download anything on xbox live you need a silver xbox live account
Yes, you can get game demos with just an Xbox LIVE Silver account, which is free.
Yep. For $4 a month, you can upgrade your silver account to a gold account and play online with other people from around the globe.
There is no reason for downgrading a Xbox live account. If people who do not know what downgrading an Xbox live account means, it will mean that your gold membership will become silver. However, there is no way to do this and there is no reason to do so.
All you have to do is create the account and it automatically becomes what is call an Xbox Live Silver Account. You don't need any credit card or subscription card.
Yes you can
You can create your a profile and made it silver.
Upgrade from a silver account to gold
You can do it with a Silver account (now simply known as Xbox Live Free), but you will still need a Gold account to play those maps in online multiplayer.