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

[.......]

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.

[.......]

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

[........]

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.)

A "Touch Screen" for detailed work is not an easier way to be productive, especially for desktop programs.  Perhaps it's ok for perusing web pages, news articles, and documents, as long as there are no small link areas to enlarge and contend with.  I keep trying to use the touch screen for productivity work but I find it awkward at best in most situations.  I just consider it an extra that maybe one day will prove really useful.

I agree, the new Windows Start button is a joke - what was Microsoft thinking?  Beside still needing to add a third party start button, I use the Windows Logo key and x key together to get a meaningful menu.

Still am unable to install Win 8.1 on my desktop computer which is running Win 8.  II am running Win 8.1 on a new Sony ultrabook I just purchased with it already installed.

I finally resolved my issue by installing latest WIndows update (Tuesday's patch), thanks ;)

But still, 2 months for Microsoft to resolve this...keep that in mind.

I got a new HP laptop with Win 8.0, and encountered this error when trying to upgrade to 8.1. I was able to fixed it this way:

1. Use HP System Recovery to perform a "Minimized Image Recovery". See this link: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c03489643
2. Run Microsoft update ONLY and install all important updates it found. I did NOT run the HP update program (which would have installed some HP and 3rd-party drivers).

At this point I was able to upgrade to Windows 8.1 successfully, so I suspect it's some driver installed by the HP update program that was causing the problem.

Of course, it was a new laptop so it's easy for me to do a "Minimized Image Recovery".

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.

Make some more empty space on your windows partition,this might help...You can download this update elsewhere as an iso file(google download windows 8.1)burn it on cd.But never,never give up!It took me 10 times,but it was worth it!