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

I also have a DELL XPS 15 and I tried to update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.

I got to the point where it is "getting my devices ready", then the PC restarts to a blue screen. The screen was frozen for more than one hour. No messages. I was desperate. Then I decided to restart the computer. It tried to recover the installation, it  failed, and  then restored Windows 8. When the system boots up after this, I got 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"

For sure I will not try another upgrade. I think Microsoft should be more careful before any upgrade release. Next time I will buy a Mac.

When I encountered this issue, I disabled a BIOS setting on my Asrock MoBo: No-Excute Memory Protection

After that change, 8.1 installed correctly. When setup had completed, I re-enabled the BIOS option again and no issues encountered.

The Administrative (bits) profile is corrupt ; You must reinstall Windows 8 first, then continue on to Windows 8.1.

Since you used to work for Microsoft and "know the process" how come there is nothing in the "act" or "err" logs to pinpoint the problem encountered???

BTW my $windows.~BT subdirectory, in which the Panther install logs are found is 4.5 gig in size!!

bob

I've been trying for 2 weeks to update from Windows 8 to 8.1.  I have literally tried everything, and nothing seems to work.  I'm on my 12th attempt right now.

I have uninstalled practically half of my software and nothing helps.  Clean driver installs.  Even the Upgrade Assistant now tells me everything is good to go.  Regardless, it fails.   I can make it all the way to the Windows start up screen and that is where the spinning wheel of dots rotates infinitely.  I even left it like that for 12 hours and nothing.  When I restart I get the error that I have to restore back to 8.0 and get the error code on this thread.

This is beyond frustrating.  Microsoft has really fallen a long way in terms of quality. The fact that they allow this rubbish to exist and make it this difficult for users to upgrade an OS is downright absurd.  A regular user shouldn't have to go through great lengths to clean registries, unload drivers, pull cards out, change bios settings, etc.  Imagine all of the people without extensive computer knowledge out there who have no idea how to fix this atrocity?

My computer is a few years old.  Here is what I am working with:

Dell 730X

Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit

Intel i7-940 2.93Ghz

6GB RAM

EVGA GeForce GTX 570HD

Blu-Ray Burner

DVD ROM

Microsoft Wireless Keyboard and Mouse 5000 Series

Dell 2408 WFP Monitor

Broadcom Netlink Ethernet Adapter

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi

HP Photosmart C6300 printer

Any help by the community would be appreciated.  I won't hold my breath waiting for Microsoft themselves to fix this.  At this point with this many bugs maybe I shouldn't even want to get 8.1 on my machine.