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

Count me in as another one extremely frustrated by this whole mess.  I have to stop sometimes and be thankful that at the very least, every fail takes me back to the perfectly working 8.0 install I already have.  In the meantime, I've tried most of the suggestions in this thread to no avail.  For those of you who haven't been so brave to do so, I've gone so far as to nuke my 8.0 install and start again fresh.  This involved allowing the software to reinstall, perform the initial Windows Updates so the upgrade ill appear in the store, and then attempting to upgrade without adding any of my applications, tools or the like; just the vanilla Microsoft stuff.  This still failed.  Like some of you, I had the 8.1 Preview install just fine on a separate partition.  I removed it after it being quite buggy on my machine.  Anyways, I've taken to heart suggestions made here: one suggested to remove a recent security update, which my machine didn't even have; another posted a link to an MS site with device drivers, only for me to download the driver and device manager not even recognize them as new.  I've gotten 0x40017, 0x40018, and 0x40019 at different times attempting to upgrade.  At this point, I'm done trying.  I'm thankful enough to have a working 8.0 install (and think, some people are still running XP happily).  If another suggestion comes along that seems feasible I may be compelled to try again, but I near convinced I won't see 8.1 until I get a new machine.

Specs

Computer: HP Pavilion dv7-4077cl (purchased in 2010)

Processor: Intel Core i3

Graphics: AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5470 + Intel 3000 (switchable graphics; only the Intel card works on my machine, can't even get the AMD card to turn on, which ironically works for me as the AMD card was the source of trouble when I upgraded from 7 to 8.)

Only one more suggestion that could be off here... Many complained that the video drivers were replaced or not installed correctly in 8.1.  You could try reinstalling them.  Long shot, but it's something?

I tried all the zoom features and settings, but I finally figured it out. Personalization options, screen scaling was the problem. set it to small, no more size issues, I can go back to using chrome on my desktop and IE on start screen now. I know this was an issue for a few friends as well so I hope this helps someone else The brightness issue persists. nothing I do changes it, I have gone thru all brightness settings. when I use my keyboard button a new screen indicator comes up in addition to the old way, and t shows it going up and down but no actual difference. I really need this fixed as I often have to use it in the dark or dim lighting and this is killing my eyes, any suggestions would be appreciated, I know that this is pretty minor compared to the main problem here but this seems to be an 8.1 problem and I am trying to draw on everybody's experience with post 8.1 install problems

Fully agree with Gunzta, it is time for Micromoney to come clean and admit that they have messed up big-time. If it was only RT then we would not have so many folks on various forums having the same problems with 8.1 Pro. This forum alone has around 300 folks with upgrade failures.

For the record the Microsoft figure of 1 in 1000 RT owners with upgrade errors is not a "small minority", if they have sold say 1 million surface tablets you do the arithmetic, that amounts to a very significant number indeed! Another point which Micromoney has made that the problem exists with mainly "self build"  machines is a blatant lie. We cannot build Surface tablets and install RT ourselves, they are factory made and preinstalled. So who is lying here? It sure isn't us.

What can we do to get the high and mighty at Redmond to listen to us? Does anyone have any suggestions or do we just knuckle under and wait for their programmers to tell us yet again it is basically our fault for not having the wit to have our machines ready to troubleshoot the unknown error written into 8.1 and it's download.

Sort it out yourselves is what it sounds like and I for one don't like the way we are being treated, we have paid for this system and under consumer laws in various countries a product supplied has to be fit for purpose and function to an acceptable standard. OK so the upgrade is "free" but the original operating system is not and failing to install this upgrade means it is not functioning to an acceptable standard!

Apologies for the rant but I am p***ed off after numerous attempts and "fixes" to get this thing to work as it should.

Woooaa there my friend. I appreciate that you are frustrated, many of us are but my post wasn't having a go at Microsoft or calling them names. My post was me adding my name to the list of people experiencing this issue and simply asking for them to acknowledge us and the issue by perhaps giving us some reassurance that they are looking into it.

Regardless of your frustrations, as I said, everyone makes mistakes, we are only human. Microsoft is a business, just like any other business. And just like any other business, they are in business to make money from selling their products and services. When you have a development team as large as the Windows Engineering Team is, then it's not unrealistic to expect some issues from time to time. Nobody is perfect. However I also don't think it's unrealistic for Microsoft to acknowledge the issue by saying it is being investigated. I believe they have now done this and so we just have to be patient while they resolve this. I'm quite sure that a fix will be issued in due course.

I had 5 PC's (including a Surface RT) running Windows 8, All but 1 (my main gaming rig) has updated without issue. I'm sure my gaming rig will get 8.1 in the near future. I was just hoping this would be before the launch of BF4 for obvious reasons. I hope you get your problem fixed soon my friend.

SOLVED

After many hours / days of frustration the 8.1 has successfully been installed by a level 2 tech at Microsoft. Say what you will but they expended many hours looking into my problem so Im very grateful

Seemed to use ISO Id placed on desktop as suggested by earlier contributor. downloadable from Microsoft site following instruction on CNET about how to get round product code problem,