"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
    2013-10-19T13:52:57+00:00

    Well after several tries this is how I 'fixed' it:

    • Checked Windows Update
    • Uninstalled all mouse/ keyboard/ cam/... drivers
    • Installed the latest amd ati video driver BETA.
    • Disabled all startup programs
    • Disabled Windows Defender
    • Removed all peripherals from the cpu except keyboard

      I don't know if this will work for anyone but after 6 attempts it finally worked.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T14:36:40+00:00

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

    Same here. Can't find a workaround -_-

    MSI GT780DX

    I7-2670QM

    Nvidia GTX 50m

    8GB RAM

    750 GB HDD

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T15:02:15+00:00

    To provide an update on my issue, I did a fresh install of Windows 8 and then ran critical Windows Updates. After doing this, the Windows 8.1 update option showed in the Store and I went through it, without a single hitch this time.

    Goes to show that this isn't a hardware problem, but a software issue that appears to be driver related per everyone's posts.

    The ridiculous part is that I wanted to do a fresh install anyway and all this hassle would've been avoided for me if only Microsoft had made it possible to download Windows 8.1 as a standalone ISO with my perfectly valid, perfectly legal Windows 8 key instead of pulling this shenanigans.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T15:05:29+00:00

    I have had this exact same issue also. I am running an Asus G73Jh. These are the steps I have taken to solve the issue:

    1. Updated with all the latest Windows updates
    2. Updated all the latest OEM driver updates
    3. Unplugged all external devices, even the mouse
    4. Disabled AVG Anti Virus and shut down every possible program running in the background such as Teamviewer, Dropbox, Evernote, Googl Hangouts, Chrome, etc, etc

    Still no luck, anxiously awaiting some new guidance from Microsoft on this issue.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-10-19T15:08:30+00:00

    I am also having the same issue.  Tried all of the suggested remedies on this thread with no luck.  The really frustrating part is that all the Win7 machines I've updated in the last 24 hours upgraded without issue.  I thought this upgrade would fix my general dissatisfaction with Win 8 but we are really getting off on the wrong foot... 

    Whatever is going on with this upgrade it seems my only option is to wait until there are new suggestions or M$ fixes the bug they should have caught sooner...  Or I finally commit to switching to another OS....

    Getting it wrong once with Win8 is understandable but fouling up the simple process of going from Win 8 to Win 8.1 is unforgivable...

    Clock is ticking M$, there are a lot of options out there that didn't exist in the past....

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