Windows 8.1 Install Error 0xC1900101-0x20017

Question

I had this problem upgrading from windows 8 to the preview and was never able to install it. Now I just try with the final and same problem is happening.

Microsoft is really disappointing me. This is ridiculous

<Split from: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1_pr-windows_install/windows-81-couldnt-complete-update-error/a1a0ea07-45a7-441f-b747-51e63ecf58ce >

Answer 1

The 8.1 upgrade process is inexplicably defeated by really simple things (that have been reported since 8.1 Preview).

1. If you added a second drive to your system (e.g., you installed an SSD as the new boot drive), the upgrade will fail if the second (original) drive is not disconnected. In the same way, any external drive must be disconnected.
2. It's necessary to run msconfig and disable all non-Microsoft services, reboot, then initiate the upgrade (or re-initiate the upgrade, since you've already seen it fail by this point).

These two points seem to resolve many instances of failed upgrade.

Answer 2

I, too, had this issue back when Windows 8.1 Preview was released.  I never managed to get it working then but assumed Microsoft would get it fixed by final release yesterday.  Nope!  I've tried about twelve different suggestions, including the prior, to get the installation working and none of them have worked.  I'm in no way saying that my situation is representative of anyone else who is having the same error.

Last night, I ended up biting the bullet and doing what I've tried to avoid all along -- a clean and complete installation of Windows 8.  Afterward, I applied all relevant updates and then upgraded to Windows 8.1 without a problem.

It sucked, but I decided it was time to end this insanity.  Good luck guys!

Answer 3

If installing from Windows 8, begin with step 1.

1. Reset pc
2. Open Windows Updates
3. Install important updates
4. Install optional updates
5. Go to Windows > Software Distribution and delete contents of the folder (do not delete folder)
6. Run Disk Cleaner
7. Clear Windows Store cache files

Press Windows Flag key + R

Type WSreset.exe

Press Ok

8) Download Windows 8.1

Answer 4

I've done all of these and more and it still fails! I have six machine's with different platforms all except this one with the news hardware updated. If you guy's don't have a solution say so, tell us your working on it, or give us another way to install without blowing everything away.

Level 10 GT                     

Thermaltake 1200W PSU                       

ASUS Sabertooth     X79 Socket 2011                          

I7 3930KOC 4.55GHz                                              

Corsair 32GB Vengeance Memory                                 

2 EVGA GTX 780 SLI                                 

Acer 27” 120Hz Monitor                       

2 Western Digital 600 VelociRaptor GB 32MB Cache

1 Seagate Barracuda 3TB File Drive

1 Seagate Barracuda 3TB File Backup Drive         

LG BD-DVD Burner                               

Gyration Ultra Cordless RF Mouse and Keyboard

2 VID-NXTTN 780 Koolance water blocks

Koolance CPU 380i water block

Koolance External EHX-1020SL 4 fan radiator

Koolance External Pump and Tank

Logitech G950 Wireless 5.1 Headphones

Momo Racing Force Feedback Wheel and Racing Pedals

Cyber Snipa Gamepad

Logitech Dual Action Gamepad

Answer 5

Ok, I am no expert but decided to look at the install log, since I also had the same issue.  Among all the cryptic entries (again no expert), I did see an entry regarding bad DNS, just right before the exit point of the install.  So I figured, maybe my network card has an issue.

So this is what I did (which worked).

From windows 8.0 I went to store (again) and clicked the 8.1 update.

It did not need to download the whole thing since it was already downloaded.

The moment I saw that the status changed from downloading to something else, I switched to my desktop, device manager and disabled my network card.

I let the installation take its course.

Once finish, I re enabled my network card, and BAM, ALL SET :)

Non techie solution to an extremely annoying problem the techs can't seem to resolve :)