"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
    2014-02-09T12:05:53+00:00

    Try this:

    On your Windows 8, go to Windows Update, find and remove these updates: KB2903939 and KB2904440, then try 1 more time Upgrade from Store.

    I'm using Windows 8.1 and when i install those updates (KB2903939 and KB2904440), my PC has the same error like 0xC1900101 - 0x40017

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-13T06:55:24+00:00

    Add one more to the list! Same issue reported by others (0xc1900101-0x40017) while trying to upgrade to 8.1 ... My machine is an HP Envy M6-K025DX.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-13T09:25:33+00:00

    I had this same problem, on a Acer V5-573G with Intel Core i5-4200, GeForce GT750M, 1000GB HDD+SDD Cache. 

    Acer recommends on their site to uninstall all Nvidia and and Intel VGA drivers before attempting the upgrade. I did this and ended up with the same result as OP. Then I tried installing the newest VGA drivers (non OEM, from intel.com and nvidia.com) and now the upgrade works.

    This was the solution for me, but reading about this problem there seems to be a lot of things that could cause this error.

    PS: Having SteelSeries drivers installed for mouse/keyboard seems to definitely cause this error, there's a warning about it on steelseries homepage.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-14T18:54:12+00:00

    After about two months of struggling, I finally figured it out.  I had no luck using the ISO image on a USB drive, so I did have the Windows 8.0 DVD.  So I booted with that, and at the Partition screen, I deleted completely the partitions that currently had windows on them.  Deleted/Formatted, etc.  It then created what was needed and did a clean install of windows 8.0.  I then ran the updates, then went to the store and did the process to update to 8.1.  Slow process, but it worked perfectly.

    I have a 100gb Solid State drive as a c drive that windows is on that I was worried was causing it - probably due to the way I initially set it up when I got the PC.  Lenovo, plus after-market solid state drive.

    Just wanted to throw this out in case someone was in same shoes as me.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-02-14T22:17:06+00:00

    it's february 2014 and my Win 8.1 still fails on blue screen, while win 8 working ok

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