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

Hi everybody, 

At the end I solved my problem by contacting the official Microsoft chat assistance. They solved the problem by taking the control of my pc through a remote control software they made me download. So what I suggest you is to call the online assistance, it's the fastest and easiest way. Of course I agree with you that this problem should have been solved long time ago

Quote: "...then your only choice is a fresh install from a cd or usb and deletion of ALL partitions and then installing to the un-partitioned space."

With all due respect, that is unacceptable. Windows 8.1 cannot upgrade from 8.0 and one has to use the scorched earth process to fix it? And MS, with it's gazillions of endless resources, is incapable of simply listing the problem so it can be resolved?

Instead, it says upgrade failed. Since it failed for some reason, then why can't MS show the reason?

As unacceptable as it seems, it may still be the only choice. Take your Ford to the Ford dealer, ask them to upgrade the 6 cylinder engine to a V8.  If it turns out that the Ford, had been rebuilt with a Chevy transmission, and the upgrade won't work or can't be done. The mechanics, not trained on Chevrolet transmissions don't have enough knowledge of Chevy mechanics to even begin to explain why it can't be done or does not work.

Before you think that analogy is off base, let me explain. I saw one computer with 8.0 on it where there was a brand new Toshiba 3TB HD. The Toshiba drive came formatted with a "Basic" NTFS partition table. The limit on a Basic partition is 2.1TB. To get 3TB, one must use a GPT volume. The drive used a basic volume but modified the volume to make it use the entire drive in a way that might be usable by Unix and some versions of Linux, but is not compatible with any version of windows, (or for that matter, most versions of Linux. While that trick may make the buyer think they are getting more GB per dollar, and may even work for the average user who will never fill up the drive, the end result is that when you do an upgrade, you are building a new house on a crumbling foundation. Often, third party partition programs can do things that the MS equivalent (Computer Management - Disk Management) won't do because MS obeys all the rules set down by the FAT and NTFS standards used by all previous versions of Windows. BTW, the upgrade failed on that drive with the same message you got. I removed the partitions and converted the disk to GPT. Then installed 8.0 and the upgrade to 8.1 went off without a hitch.

If you have incompatible partitions, an incompatible BIOS , other third party programs, (like some anti virus programs), incompatible , hardware, drivers, or have done something outside the rules set forth for the OS, (like moving some system folders like /USERS to another drive via a registry hack, you can not expect MS to be able to display an error message for every conceivable stupid thing users and vendors could possibly do.

If you are unable to fix the partition or other problem and get the laptop back in compliance, then you can try a clean install of 8.0. (And by CLEAN install, I mean that during the install you delete all partition/volumes using the install disk, and install to the un-partitioned space.)

"As unacceptable as it seems, it may still be the only choice. "

Actually, there is another choice. Stay with W8 and end all the frustration"

"Take your Ford to the Ford dealer, ask them to upgrade the 6 cylinder engine to a V8.  If it turns out that the Ford, had been rebuilt with a Chevy transmission, and the upgrade won't work or can't be done."

Obviously, I have failed to make my point. In the above situation, I would be told there is a transmission compatibility and they don't know how to fix it.

MS sees something incompatible during the upgrade but for some mysterious reason, won't explain it. They say there's a problem but won't say what.

That is the major compliant: There is nothing wrong with an update that fails. Stuff happens.

The issue is MS discovered a problem, but fails to tell you what it was.

Sorry, but I am a lowly common sense girl and don't know the innards of computers with all it's abbreviated CAP LETTERS and you lost me at "hello".............  (LOL to the movie)

When I see "update" I figure whoever has the update to the original knows what they are doing

and all I have to do is click.  I've never had to jump through these many hoops before.  I get

analogy of Ford/Chevy - still it is we are talking about an update to a program that they issued

in the first place.  If 8 is on there already, this is an UPDATE to 8 - not some whole newfangled

program.

augie44, I agree with you completely.

A simple upgrade should be --- ah, simple.