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

Error 0xC1900101 - 0x40017 is caused by a driver error during boot.  To install Windows 8.1, try these solutions that have worked for some customers so far:

1. Make sure all drivers have been updated prior to installing Windows 8.1.
2. Check for and uninstall the SteelSeries Engine software, which is currently not supported in Windows 8.1.  See this link for a list of hardware devices that use the SteelSeries Engine.
3. If your PC contains NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, update to Windows 8.1-compatible drivers by visiting this blog containing direct links to the compatible drivers.

To follow up with what BillFill just posted, many of us that are experiencing this error are running Dell, and particularly Dell XPS laptops. Before updating to 8.1, check http://support.dell.com to see if there is a Driver for Windows 8.1 posted for your service tag. For those of us running an XPS 15, there definitely is as it was released on 10/15 (You'll have to filter your operating system to Windows 8.1). Update your NVIDIA graphics driver prior to upgrading to Windows 8.1 and it should work for you. It did for me. I'm willing to bet that almost everyone that still hasn't resolved their issue has an issue with one of the three points above.

Thank you.

The NVidia link points to the preview Nvidia drivers for Windows 8.1 The more resently released drivers are here:  http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/68499/en-us

Wouldn't it be better to try with those newer driver rather than the preview drivers?

Is there any log to be found anywhere that might verify which driver is in fact the issue on a particular piece of hardware?

BillFill, I'm very disappointed with this response. I appreciate that these actions have worked for some people and it's good to highlight this, but if you follow this thread since I raised it on Thursday last week you will find many examples of people giving detailed explanations of how they have tried these "fixes" with no effect whatsoever. Yours is the first whiff of an official response from Microsoft in days and for it to gloss over the problems many are having is galling to say the least.

It's great that these actions fix the problem for some people, but please don't try to pretend that this is "the solution": it isn't. This is still very much a problem that requires your attention.

Incidentally, I have been having contact with your colleagues via a private message response to one of my posts on the first page of this thread. My last contact was uploading some diagnostic data two days ago, and I have received no acknowledgement or response.

BillFill, I'm very disappointed with this response. I appreciate that these actions have worked for some people and it's good to highlight this, but if you follow this thread since I raised it on Thursday last week you will find many examples of people giving detailed explanations of how they have tried these "fixes" with no effect whatsoever. Yours is the first whiff of an official response from Microsoft in days and for it to gloss over the problems many are having is galling to say the least.

 

It's great that these actions fix the problem for some people, but please don't try to pretend that this is "the solution": it isn't. This is still very much a problem that requires your attention.

 

Incidentally, I have been having contact with your colleagues via a private message response to one of my posts on the first page of this thread. My last contact was uploading some diagnostic data two days ago, and I have received no acknowledgement or response.

 

 

I agree completely. There are those of us without NVIDIA or SteelSeries -- and even have the latest drivers (for Windows 8). I re-verified everything last night, uninstalled most software, disabled a slew of hardware options in BIOS and still it does not work other than losing another hour.

Disappointing response and totally avoids a botched installation. These drivers should be checked beforehand and updated or made unavailable (as in other Win OS installations).