"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
    2013-10-22T15:16:07+00:00

    NVIDIA users ---

    Can you check your nvkflt.sys file and see which version it is?  Does it match the version of the NVIDIA drivers that you have installed?

    You can check this by navigating to C:\Windows\System32\Drivers in Windows Explorer.  Find nvkflt.sys and hover over it to get some information, you should be able to see the version number on the first line.

    The version should match the version of the NVIDIA drivers that you have installed.

    Mine shows as 320.00 (or 9.18.13.2000), which is OLDER than the current version of the NVIDIA drivers I have installed (320.96).

    I've confirmed that newer drivers do indeed come with a newer version of this file, but for some reason is is not being installed properly.  I've updated my drivers two or three times since 320.00, and again I am currently running 320.96.

    If you try to upgrade the NVIDIA drivers to the 325 series or later, but nvkflt.sys is not updated, you'll get a BSOD (SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED blaming nvkflt.sys).  I believe this is [at least part of] what is messing up the Windows 8.1 upgrade for me, as it will try to install a 325-series driver during the setup process.

    Having discovered this, I haven't tried to fix it yet, I won't have time to do that until this evening, but I was wondering if anyone else noticed this version discrepancy.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-22T14:57:44+00:00

    I was running into the same problem with my Lenovo W520. After many unsuccessful attempts to update to 8.1 from 8 I was able to upgrade.

    I tried installing all Windows Updates, all Lenovo updates, and even the NVidia drivers from their website (which wasn't part of Windows Update). Everything failed until I enabled the integrated video card (disabling optimus and the Nvidia card) on the BIOS. I then rebooted and was able to upgrade to 8.1

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-22T14:53:01+00:00

    Has there been any official update by Microsoft on this?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-22T12:44:36+00:00

    For a few, upgrading to 327 worked.  For me, 327 and 331 made no difference.  There is no harm in trying though, as if it fails, it just reverts back to 8.0 with no repercussions.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-10-22T10:50:53+00:00

    I loaded nVidia R331 drivers today, disconnected all peripherals except mouse and keyboard and setup FAILED again. There is not much to do.... just wait for the right patch from microsoft.

    What a fiasco...

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