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

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However as I am, like most old users, a desktop keyboard/mouse user and not a touch screen user, I require the Start button, so for no other reason, win 8.1 has a half hearted attempt at returning this facility.

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4. As I had a free application to give me a Start button ( classic start menu ) I remove this.

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This "touch screen" orientation of Windows 8 is the most stupid thing in the history of (desktop) operating systems. Who uses that? A few, maybe. How can one do complex jobs (editing, image/sound processing etc) using a touch screen? Will you stretch out your hands all the time to reach the screen (especially if it is a big one, to have clarity)? Will you keep it on your lap? Will you use some pins (and not your bulky fingertips) when you have to touch on precisely? Will you wipe the screen all the time because it's full of finger grease? The stupid "philosophy" of Windows 8 is this: "If we cannot make a tablet work like desktop computer, then let's make a desktop computer work like a tablet"! That cripples any idea of productivity.

The new START button is a mockery. It's actually no button and no start button. It is an ugly area (where you see how ugly the new Windows logo looks). A Start button should help you start your work, meaning applications. This one starts no application. So the 3rd party real Start button is a must.

(I didn't find any problems that the Classic Menu application might pose. But Windows 8/8.1 taught us that we have to be superstitious and pray all time.)

I have also been battling with this problem since October and only this week finally upgraded.

My machine is fairly old being a Dell Vostro 1310 laptop that I have increased the memory to 4GB and updated from XP Pro ( which i was more than happy with but is imminently going to loose support) to Win 8.0 Pro using an upgrade package. It is a 32bit operating system with dual core processor.

This does prove and issue in that I lost the use of Bluetooth as no supporting drivers, and the O2Micro SD card reader driver does not always function.

However as I am, like most old users, a desktop keyboard/mouse user and not a touch screen user, I require the Start button, so for no other reason, win 8.1 has a half hearted attempt at returning this facility. As an IT manager i also need to find solutions for people.

Its taken a long time to find a solution and I am very disappointed with Microsoft in the way they provided this update to existing users and then subsequent lack of resolution. Its not surprising that people are looking for alternative operating system to use. I would like to thank all those on the web that have put their own solutions experience as I found that a mixture solved my own problem.

Please note if upgrading from the app upgrade Win 8.0 option then I got

0xc1900101-0x20017 error

trying to upgrade from an upgrade CD I got

0x101-0x20017 or -0x9000

So what did i do.

1. Make sure all windows updates are at the latest standard. I found that one of mine was stuck and this stopped a number of other updates. Your therefore have to get this installed. Number of techniques for this such as cleaning out old Update cache and letting auto upgrade do the business again. I found this does not always work, so you have to get the file from the Microsoft site and install manually.
2. Once updated, including all optional updates, then remove any old devices that are not active. you can see this from the the Device manager - show hidden devices option.
3. I then removed any devices that although said okay they did not work 100%. in my case Bluetooth and O2micro.
4. As I had a free application to give me a Start button ( classic start menu ) I remove this.
5. I downloaded the Windows 8.1 upgrade iso and created a CD from this. I gave up on the Windows auto upgrade path as 2.8GB download nearly every time is a real pain and also i needed to turn off ALL internet access. See later.
6. Go to Microsoft website and get the upgrade temp key. This is to get over the fact that the upgrade CD does not recognize 8.0 windows key. For my Win8 Pro it is GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9. Not this is only for allow the installation to take place. Once install you must put your valid win 8.0 key license back on your system.
7. Do a disk check and disk clean making sure that you have disk space. i not only did the usual windows tools scan but went to admin command prompt and did sfc/scannow. If any problems try and fix.
8. BACKUP all essential data. This is a must and good practice anyway. No not forget to do you emails and address book if you use local storage as well as all those obvious data files.
9. Try and make sure you registry is okay. i use a free utility called CCleaner which is also good for cleaning up cache/dns and files on system. Do take care though not to clean too much and loose all you passwords / configuration files. I also did a reset store - Win+R and then type wsreset.exe.
10. Remove you third party virus checker / firewall / spam check etc completely. I tried a number of times to just disable, which allowed me to get further with the upgrade but it still did not install.
11. In doing 10 now turn of and disable all internet access. I did both WIFI and Ethernet port to cover both.
12. Reboot system.
13. when window up and running insert Win8.1 upgrade cd and follow instructions. Use the Temp key as described above when asked. And let it do its stuff. Confirm questions as appropriate.
14. Once Win8.1 installed and restarted find your Win8.0 license key and reactivate the machine.
15. Check the windows updates and if any get stuck then do manual updates to clear.

And that's it !! I am sure some of the steps are not necessary, but i tried so many different items and adding to the solution that once upgrade eventually happened i am not stupid enough to start all over again. Life is too short and if it 'aint Broke don't try and fix it.

having said all the above. In October I had another laptop which was purchased this year and is 64bit Win 8.0 machine. It had no problems going through the Windows App Store for the update, although it now has problems shutting down at times due to a app conflict, that's another story.

May patience be with you.

Good luck

Not to defend Microsoft in any way on their abysmal response to this (non-existent really), but the update worked flawlessly on my Surface. I did need to tweak a bit to get Bluetooth to recognize some devices (posted elsewhere), but had none of the issues mentioned here. I also upgraded two fairly old systems with no issue. Had problems posted earlier in this thread with a 4-year-old Thinkpad.

Why this doesn't have more press is beyond me given how quick internet tech "journalists" are to

sensationalize smaller things.

I am finding this 8.1 update complete madness. I will probably go insane before it is installed.

I am one of the unlucky ones where the downloads stop at 50%. I have tried it many times. Each time it seems to stay on 50% a little longer, just teasing me!

I do not have time to apply all the solutions that have been forthcoming. I've tried many but none have worked. I have a sensible job that takes up a lot of my time.

I do not have the time to refresh Windows 8 as it removes all my programmes and dumps them in completely useless folder. My computer is part of my job and I do not wish to have to install all my programmes again.

My son's computer has 8.1 and it works really well. All I want to do is to click on a button and my computer will update to 8.1. Just like it says. Is that too much to ask?

Is there a sign of a comprehensive solution? Are Microsoft actually working on it? Please just give me a sign.

Hi--thank you for the information--could I ask a question--I have windows 8 on my computer --I brought my computer with windows 8---so I'm confused??? why do I have to download windows 8.1 ??? when I did download windows 8.1 my computers went completely out and when I did finely get on the computer I had to download systems restore--and after 5 tries I finely got systems to bring back everything from November--so I just don't understand it---and I'm NEVER going to try it again---but again THANKS  (:>)

not sure what you are saying,but you are welcome anyway..

my windows 8.1 works like a charm...