"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
    2013-10-23T20:36:38+00:00

    I bought myself a new car and started to drive off, but it would not start. The dealer deigned to provide me with the following advice about a week later: You should

    • Remove the wheels (or at least deflate the tyres).
    • Remove the front seats (maybe the steering wheel too).
    • Smash in the windscreen.
    • Just to make sure, remove the exhaust as well.
    • If you have the optional audio system, throw it out.
    • Was this helpful?

    Any similarities are purely coincidental:-P

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-23T20:25:01+00:00

    I've updated all possible drivers for 8.1 and also updated my graphic drivers for ATI.  Still no go.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-23T18:45:34+00:00

    I'm not sure if someone from MS is watching this thread but I have tried to install 8.1 in 4 different machines, and I'd like to share my experience. 

    PC-1 (custom-build): failed to update to 8.1. four times. I followed all instructions here but with no effect.

    PC-2 (xps14): install smoothly - no problem at all!

    PC-3 and PC-4 (custom-build): They updated to 8.1 but with problems. In both PCs most of the user accounts applications in tile interface where destroyed (I mean MS apps like Mail for example). The skydrive of user accounts was pointing in PC-3 to the skydrive folder of the admin account. In both PCs I had to delete user accounts and rebuild them from scratch. I also had to reinstall nVidia drivers cz they didn't load correctly and were slowing down both PCs. Now they all work fine.

    So, is this mess supposed to happen? I mean, I saw 4 different "behaviours" in four different PCs!! Is there anyone from MS to give some real answers please??

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-23T17:46:03+00:00

    Is there any chance Microsoft could acknowledge this problem? I have tried this now 7 times. Updated Nvidia drivers, Updated ALL drivers that are available on ASUS site. Updated BIOS. Tried clean boot, tried everything. But the update keeps failing and a new pc that does not have anything strang. Even disabled all the non essential devices in the BIOS. 

    Please help.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-10-23T16:15:35+00:00

    Ah... OK.  Yeah... I'm making a backup and am going to try a refresh to start from scratch, then update - if all goes well, I'll evaluate the hassle from there.

    The thing is that I have 180 newer games installed on that PC - each one went through an install process that may or may not have modified registry settings.  If it fails catastrophically, Steam would require re-download of each one.  4Gb (rough estimate per game?) x 180 = Comcast knocking on my door.

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