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

I did not install 8.1.  However for the past 2 days my computer screen goes blue and freezes.

Was the update installed automatically?

If so please guide how to fix.  I am still running version 8

Thanks to the post that said to disable all Startup programs and utilities. That worked for me. Running Windows 8.1 now. Thanks!

I never even downloaded 8.1 because I did not trust what mess 8.1 would bring.

For past 2 days my HP laptop simply freezes with a blue screen and I cannot get out of it except by powering down. Did my machine automatically download drivers for 8.1 even though I had not installed 8.1?   Is there a fix?

Following my Windows 8.1 update problems I am off to the Apple Store this week to convert to Apple for office & home - life is too short to have to deal with Microsoft's weaknesses and poor customer service.

I understand your frustration. I too have wasted lots of time on this. I finally did a clean install using a downloaded .iso, of 8.1 and it worked.  If you like your current hardware, then before you spend a bunch of money on your new Mac, you might as well try reformatting your system disk and doing a clean install of 8.1 using the downloaded .iso files (instructions for doing this are posted on multiple boards on this site). You're going to have to install new apps on your new mac anyway (which are not free), and you will go through the frustration of a new operating system with the Mac as well.  I have a MacBook Air. The OS is fine, but frankly I use it 95% of the time with Bootcamp and Windows 8 (now 8.1) and it's one of the best Windows laptops I ever had.

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?

Run MSCONFIG --> disable all utilities, startup programs, then disable all apps in task manager applet (same window). Reboot PC. Whole procedure is called "clean reboot".

After that, try installing 8.1 . In my case it worked on 3 PCs.