Windows 8.1 install - unable to create ramdisk - 0xc1900101-0x20017

Anonymous
2013-10-18T03:27:57+00:00

When I attempt to install Windows 8.1 on my machine from the Windows Store, on boot I receive a blue screen. The error message indicates that the system was unable to create a ramdisk and shows error number 0xc1900101.

On reboot, it restores my original installation and provides the following error code: 0xc1900101-0x20017.

In reading some other topics, it seems drivers may need to be updated, but as far as I know I am up-to-date. Is there a way to identify which driver had a failure?

Also, on other threads with this code, I see no mention of a "ramdisk". Is that a unique problem?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Edit: Let me note my system has no ramdisk software installed whatsoever.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-04-22T13:45:31+00:00

    sorry it took me so long to reply

    I was in the same boat as most people with the ramdisk error. My Windows 8 Pro was an upgrade from Windows 7 Ultimate (the $40 upgrade) and for some reason after the upgrade my system reserved partition disappeared...

    I really didnt want to recreate Windows from a clean install (was waiting till i build my next PC to bother with a clean install) so i decided to try the solution at http://microsofttime2stepup.blogspot.com/ 

    After some work, my PC accepted the 8.1 upgrade and it ended an 6 month struggle with this issue

    I have a custom built PC that is still using parts from 2008 and older:

    asus mobo p5n-d

    nvidia 750i SLI chipset 

    core 2 quad Q6600

    nvidia 8 series graphics card (sorry i dont remember the model of the top of my head)

    I didnt exactly follow all of the steps that were in the link that i posted. I didnt want to bother with buying the software the person recommended so I used an linux OS instead for that part.

    As for your issue with the SRP being too small, only way i could think of making it bigger would be:

    use a software to assign the partition a drive letter, increase the size, and then remove the drive letter

    or

    delete the SRP and create a new partition. then use the windows 8 recovery disk to recreate the SRP and bootmgr

    both of those steps are risky because if you slip up, you wont be able to boot into windows and will get startup errors

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-22T11:52:06+00:00

    Well I do have system reserved partition but I think its too small. Tried extending it using Windows Disk Management, Paragon Disk Software and even the DOS prompt tool with enough un-allocated space but I am unable to increase its size... Can anybody help?

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-22T10:20:24+00:00

    Well... I feel the same way.... still stuck no clue. I think this is irresponsible of Microsoft... I did not expect this from them..... I was reading elsewhere on this forum ( a reply from jlouis32)

    http://microsofttime2stepup.blogspot.com/

    I am thinking to just create another small partition as suggested but without  all the hassle of re installing windows 8 and other software, perform an upgrade and see if it solves the above error

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-21T22:56:43+00:00

    Yes Im still in the same boat...I tbi k we have been abandoned by Microsoft.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-04-21T21:05:23+00:00

    I recently tried to update to 8.1 after waiting 6+ months when I first received the 0xc1900101 - 0x20017 error. I have since received this error every single time and each time I try some new suggestion. Tier 1 support could not assist in a remote session. I will see what tier 2 says. I am also trying some further suggestions today after work.

    My laptop is an HP ~1 year old and was pre-installed with windows 8. I will eventually post every detail of what I am running. From everything i've read, NVIDIA chipset seems to be the culprit for most. Any word?

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