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

I tried to update my desktop with an ASUS GTX660 graphics card, and when that failed I uninstalled the card and used the built-in Intel graphics on my ASUS Z87-A motherboard.  That made no difference, installation failed at the same spot.  I have been running the beta version on my Think Pad W520 for months with no issues.

Maybe try uninstalling both of the graphics cards, deleting drivers as you do, and try again.

I tried to update my desktop with an ASUS GTX660 graphics card, and when that failed I uninstalled the card and used the built-in Intel graphics on my ASUS Z87-A motherboard.  That made no difference, installation failed at the same spot.  I have been running the beta version on my Think Pad W520 for months with no issues.

Here is where we sit with the updating to 8.1 fiasco (everything I've tried, not necessarily in order):

1.  Disabling all startup items, and all drivers minus system doesn't work.
2.  Resetting the store doesn't work.
3.  Running chkdsk /f doesn't work.
4.  Running sfc /scannow doesn't work (although I did get to fix a few things with this).
5.  Removing all USB devices including keyboard and mouse before reboot doesn't work.
6.  Uninstalling all software minus games doesn't work.
7.  Uninstalling nvidia drivers doesn't work.
8.  Turning off onboard sound doesn't work.
9.  Uninstalling sound drivers doesn't work
10.  Posting here hoping Microsoft will do something doesn't work.

So, have I missed something here?

Based on anecdotal evidence, it *appears* that the common thread with everyone failing is non-integrated/non-intel graphics.  This could be wrong... don't care... Windows 8.1 isn't worth ripping apart my PC or starting from day 1/refresh (I have it on my laptop, and while it's nice, it's just that: nice).

This sucks that we have to waste all this time.  Microsoft should give us a year's worth of ice cream or something.

Anyhow, I'm completely out of ideas...

The only thing I see for myself is that one time, a long long time ago (Pre-Windows 7?), my PC had Ubuntu on it for a short duration of time.  I noticed that the boot process had NEO Grub listed as one of my boot choices, because I had used EasyBCD.  Now, it's *possible* that 8.1 hates Grub (even though it lives past the UEFI, and W8 is the boot loader), but seeing as how the boot option is the only left over from Ubuntu, this is *really* grasping at straws, unless the rest of you start saying you have fragments from Grub living on your PCs.  I removed the boot choice, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Grub is completely scrubbed (see what I did there?).

I'm kind of over this.  I would like at this point to hear Microsoft is working on something other than RT and get some sort of an ETA on when this mess will finally be put to rest.

Speaking of which... Doesn't it feel like we're the Beta testers?  Maybe they should relabel this product from RTM back to PR or Beta so I can go on ignoring it for a while?

Q9400 / 560TI / 4GB RAM / 4TB HD ttl / MS SIDEWINDER / G15 / ECS GF7100PVT-M3 / 55" 3D TV-Monitor dual to 37" LCD TV / W8 PRO + MC

To all:

I tried an upgrade with a retail version of 8.1 on a USB stick and thought that finally I could upgrade to 8.1.

So I booted up windows 8 and stated the install process. Every thing was going fine up until the very  very end where all I got was a blank screen and blinking cursor. ( same as many here) So upon rebooting I tried several  repair options the only one that worked was a total refresh ( basically a clean install). I lost all my apps and all my documents on C: drive. When I inspected my device manager I found that my Nvidia card was identified a Basic Microsoft VGA and that I had a simple PCI communication device  not working. ( appears  to be my on-board Network port) My config is below. I am not running obscure hardware

The bottom line is:  This likely a video card or motherboard chip-set driver issue that fails some check or is misidentified and as such fails(wrong driver loads)  or only works as a basic device if it works at all.

I mean really Microsoft, there are working drivers in the Win 8 install that is being upgraded and the  upgrade fails because of a bad driver or driver check especially a bug that  it appears was identified in the preview.

Config:

(nothing overclocked)

Asus Maximus Gene V Intel I7-3770K

EVGA Nvidia GTX 760

16 GB Corsair Ram

OCZ Vertex 4 SSD 128gb C: drive

Couple of WD harddrives 1 TB each

Every USB external disconnected  except mouse and keyboard

To be  honest I've seen a lot of good reviews of this upgrade, reviews that promise better performance and a better user experience so I was kinda excited, but now well I am posting a reply in this forum so guess how I feel. I consider myself a power user so doing a complete clean install and then reinstalling all my software is not really a problem for me just takes time but for some of my friends this would be a total nightmare.  So my advice skip this until it gets fixed, I haven't seen this much up an issue with a "service pack" since windows millennium. 

(stepping off soap box).

Sorry for the rant everyone but I do feel a bit better. Good evening....

Had to give Microsoft a call, but this was definitely worthwhile...

I was left with 3 issues...

1. Bluetooth audio device had an exclamation mark over it.  The tech uninstalled it, and deleted the drivers and it never reappeared, plus BT is working perfectly (afaict), and it also resolved issue no.2...
2. The Laptop when told to shutdown, would get rid of everything off the screen in around 3 seconds and go blank screen, but not actually physically shut off.  This was resolved completely with the removal of the BT audio thingee in 1. above.
3. A warning on the desktop that "SecureBoot isn't correctly configured" - went into the BIOS and enable it, and this disappeared.

Somehow (no idea how), my boot order had got changed in the process, and it was looking to IPV4 & IPV6 before my mSata... once that was rectified, the 'checking media [FAIL]' alerts during boot disappeared.

All good so far.