"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
    2015-06-12T20:01:10+00:00

    You must have Windows 8.1 in order to upgrade (in-place; i.e. without clean install) to Windows 10.

    I had this issue when Windows 8.1 was released.  I used the "WhoCrashed" tool to analyze the crash dump from the BSOD that led to this error.  It pointed me squarely at the NVIDIA driver and from there I was able to solve the problem.

    Trying again and again won't do you any good.  Find a way to figure out which driver or other piece of system software is causing the issue ("WhoCrashed" is a good first step for this), remove it from your environment, and upgrade.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-12T14:59:33+00:00

    I too have tried everything I can (without having to take my system apart) and have the same issue.

    One last thing someone mentioned is the wireless "card" causing this which now also includes the IRQ Less than or Equal error... or something similar.

    In order for me to remove the wireless "card" I would have to remove the motherboard from the case since it is secured by a screw on the bottom of the motherboard.  (Asus P9X79_DELUXE).

    Is it true that you have to have 8.1 in order to upgrade to 10?

    Please MS,  fix this.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-06-12T14:21:19+00:00

    tried again, failed at second boot with 0x40017, after a year still coulnd't get 8.1, what if same error code comes up again when upgrade to Windows 10? this is the worst experience using a software ever, and with such a popular error, Microsoft couldn't come up with some solution to at least tell the costumer where went wrong.

    please, I;ve tried many times contacting MS support centre to no avail, and as a professional freelancer the last thing I want to do is a fresh install, I could have to spend weeks to re-setup everything.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-16T06:45:58+00:00

    thanks. This has worked for me.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-01-25T19:08:10+00:00

    What sucks is that I have tried everything to get this too work. I have tried to install Windows 8.1 directly onto a clean HDD, update from my current Windows 8, and even tried to upgrade from Windows 7.

    Just no luck. Everytime I try to boot up the Windows 8.1 install USB/DVD I get a blue screen right away saying DRIVER_VIOLATION. Apparently the laptop I have is the ASUS U43F which is a Best Buy Exclusive laptop. I can only assume that this laptop CPU is not compatible with Windows 8. 

    What's funny is that this laptop isn't even old at all. I have another laptop ASUS A8H that can run Windows 10/Windows 8.1 easily. I had no problems installing it on that computer.

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