"Couldn't update to Windows 8.1 - 0xC1900101 - 0x40017"

Anonymous
2013-10-17T13:29:23+00:00

I have downloaded the Windows 8.1 update from the store but cannot get it to install. Each time I try, I get to the point where it is "getting my devices ready", then the PC restarts to a blue screen with error message. It then tries to recover the installation, fails, then restores Windows 8. When the system boots up after this, I get a message saying:

"Couldn't update to Windows 8.1

Sorry, we couldn't complete the update to Windows 8.1. We've restored your previous version of Windows to this PC.

0xC1900101 - 0x40017"

There is n o explanation as to why the update could be completed. Any ideas how to resolve this?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-08-02T16:52:09+00:00

    For me it was Avast Antivirus **!! Uninstalling it did the trick.**I don't know how is this connected to the drivers, but i got to know this when upon restart the blue "smiley screen" (which is the first screen showing any error, and disappears very fast) showed the avast .sys file name.

    I had to completely uninstall the antivirus even disabling wouldn't help. 

    For those who are still facing the issue uninstalling AV software may help.

    YES - It worked for me too, after a long time.

    I had disabled Avast (forever, not only to next restart) but it was not enough.

    Many thanks to Spacecharge

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-02T10:11:49+00:00

    I have reformatted my PC. Installed from scratch. Installed no software. Works with win 8.  But once I try upgrading to 8.1 proper, it fails. I tried all ways, update drivers then upgrade. I have stripped the PC to barebones with only graphics card and a normal HDD. Get this error too. Seems like I am stuck with win 8. :(

    it is frustrating. And the PC is only two years old. Works perfectly fine. Throwing it out just doesn't cut it for me.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-02T05:56:32+00:00

    i've heard that the upcoming 8.2 is not a full update but rather a cumulative one, that means we still have to go through 8.1 at the first place to be able to update to 8.2, I was hoping that they will provide a whole new 8.2 which includes 8.1 along with the 0x40017 error fixed, now it seems it won't be the case, so basically its likely we are stuck with Windows 8 until Windows 9 comes out but even then who knows what will turn out, the worse part is, from what I see, they seemingly have given it all up and simply ask user to reinstall the whole damn Windows 8 thing in order to upgrade to 8.1 and forth, still I personally can't afford doing such thing.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-08-01T14:47:32+00:00

    Thats what i was thinking as well. It really blew me away that they wanted to charge me to fix a corruption issue that spawned from from their software in the first place.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-08-01T14:40:27+00:00

    To LeoGeth.  I do not believe Microsoft Support knows how to fix the problem, even for a fee.  Myself and others have had a bad experience with them trying to fix the problem.  In many cases, they take over your machine in an attempt to do good, but end up leaving your computer in a sorry state.  Its very risky to let them try to resolve this problem.

    Not to mention it's a problem with their software update and they have some nerve trying to charge you to fix it.

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