"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
    2013-10-19T08:09:54+00:00

    Good advice.  don't waste your weekend trying to get this working, my error code is 0x80004005 - 0x20004 and have tried some of the suggested methods below and caused more issues ie bsod after uninstalling AMD catalyst, luckily have got back to being able to actually start windows (F8 while in boot up appears to have saved me, so will give MSFT a few days to trawl through some of this great diagnostic info we have provided free of charge. Fair enough there are millions of hardware combos out there but Cmon wasn't that what the preview release was all about.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T09:01:02+00:00

    i had the same issue and resolved it by uninstalling anything "third party" that affects drivers. This included steel series engine, bluetooth dongle driver, m-audio drivers, Oracle virtualbox, Logitech pointer software, nvidia drivers (and let it update to MS signed ones), etc. basically anything that i figured might clash.

    after uninstalling these the upgrade worked. i have a custom built PC with msi mobo and geforce 560 ti card, and maudio 192 card running a purchased oem win 8 pro.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T09:30:32+00:00

    hi when i restart my pc twice it goes to a screen saying recovery

    [it looks like windows didnt load correctly

    if you'd like to restart and try again ,choose "restart my pc" below. otherwise, choose "see advanced repair options" for troubleshooting tools and advanced options. if you don't know which option is right for you, contact someone you trust to help] i dont know what to do now i dont realy want windows 8.1 after all this trouble i just want windows 8 back.

    please help me

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T10:19:03+00:00

    Hello all,

    Typing this from my Surface RT device (which updated to 8.1 with no issues.

    I have a custom built PC running the following:

    • Motherboard - Maximus IV Gene-Z
    • CPU - Intel core i7 2600K
    • GPU - Gigabyte GTX 570
    • Soundcard - ASUS Xonar Essence STX
    • RAM - 2 x 4GB Kingston HyperX Blue (DDR 1333)
    • SSD - Samsung 840 Pro 256GB
    • LG DVD-ROM

    I have had the same error reported when attempting to upgrade to Windows 8.1

    I get to the second screen when it says setting up devices then hangs on a black screen. I am then forced to power off my PC and power on again. The first time this happened recovering Windows 8.0 was a complete nightmare as I do not have the installation disks (my copy of Windows 8.0 was bought online as an upgrade from Windows 7).

    I created a bootable USB repair disk using my Windows 8.0 laptop and proceeded to use this in an effort to recover Windows 8.0 on my PC. Eventually this worked.

    The problem I now have aside from the fact that I can't install 8.1 is that every time I recover my 8.0 installation and boot into it within 30 mins a message pops up informing me that my PC will automatically upgrade to Windows 8.1. I then have 15 mins to save all work before automatic restart. Only way to get out of this is to turn my PC off before the automatic installation can start.

    Anyone else encountered this? How can I stop the auto update until MS can figure this problem out?

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T11:08:30+00:00

    Hey Everyone and thank You MQ37,

    After having physical removed my PCI-card (ASUS PCE-N53)

    the upgrate to 8.1 went without mishaps.

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