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

I tried all the zoom features and settings, but I finally figured it out. Personalization options, screen scaling was the problem. set it to small, no more size issues, I can go back to using chrome on my desktop and IE on start screen now. I know this was an issue for a few friends as well so I hope this helps someone else The brightness issue persists. nothing I do changes it, I have gone thru all brightness settings. when I use my keyboard button a new screen indicator comes up in addition to the old way, and t shows it going up and down but no actual difference. I really need this fixed as I often have to use it in the dark or dim lighting and this is killing my eyes, any suggestions would be appreciated, I know that this is pretty minor compared to the main problem here but this seems to be an 8.1 problem and I am trying to draw on everybody's experience with post 8.1 install problems

Only one more suggestion that could be off here... Many complained that the video drivers were replaced or not installed correctly in 8.1.  You could try reinstalling them.  Long shot, but it's something?

Count me in as another one extremely frustrated by this whole mess.  I have to stop sometimes and be thankful that at the very least, every fail takes me back to the perfectly working 8.0 install I already have.  In the meantime, I've tried most of the suggestions in this thread to no avail.  For those of you who haven't been so brave to do so, I've gone so far as to nuke my 8.0 install and start again fresh.  This involved allowing the software to reinstall, perform the initial Windows Updates so the upgrade ill appear in the store, and then attempting to upgrade without adding any of my applications, tools or the like; just the vanilla Microsoft stuff.  This still failed.  Like some of you, I had the 8.1 Preview install just fine on a separate partition.  I removed it after it being quite buggy on my machine.  Anyways, I've taken to heart suggestions made here: one suggested to remove a recent security update, which my machine didn't even have; another posted a link to an MS site with device drivers, only for me to download the driver and device manager not even recognize them as new.  I've gotten 0x40017, 0x40018, and 0x40019 at different times attempting to upgrade.  At this point, I'm done trying.  I'm thankful enough to have a working 8.0 install (and think, some people are still running XP happily).  If another suggestion comes along that seems feasible I may be compelled to try again, but I near convinced I won't see 8.1 until I get a new machine.

Specs

Computer: HP Pavilion dv7-4077cl (purchased in 2010)

Processor: Intel Core i3

Graphics: AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5470 + Intel 3000 (switchable graphics; only the Intel card works on my machine, can't even get the AMD card to turn on, which ironically works for me as the AMD card was the source of trouble when I upgraded from 7 to 8.)

Last night I was working with a lady from the Microsoft support team.

We tried the following,

uninstalled McAfee

unplugged all external devices but a keyboard and mouse.  Heck, even my second monitor that uses HDMI

ran a disk check

created a new Admin account to update with

all of these failed at 100% when applying computer settings.

At this point, this issue has been escalated to Microsoft level 2 support.  I'll have an update on Monday.

I've gotten the same error code twice on trying to install Win 8.1

0xC1900101 0x40017

Self Built PC

i5 3570K

Gigabyte G1.Sniper 3

Nvidia GTX 570

Samsung 840 Pro SSD

Tried both methods. Drivers are all the most recent versions from the manufacturer unless Windows Update found newer.

The antivirus I'm running is GData Antivirus 2014.