Windows 8.1 Install Error 0xC1900101-0x20017

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.

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!

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

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

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.

Think I'll give that one a try.

Where does one find the log file? Sounds like a good idea...

Where does one find the log file? Sounds like a good idea...

As I wrote here, all Upgrade-Infos are written to a hidden folder $Windows.~BT
The logs are .log-text files within those two folders:

$Windows.~BT\sources\Panther
$Windows.~BT\sources\Rollback

First folder is for pre-install, Rollback is for install matter. Copy the .log-files to your desktop - then you are able to open it in notepad.exe.

HTH

Ok after disk cleanup I and rerunning the install and getting the same error I found this at the end of the log

2013-10-20 10:37:42, Info                  MOUPG  A previous StudyID was [not restored]
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Info                  MOUPG  SetupManager::Execute called
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Info                  MOUPG  SetupManager::Rollback Mode Detected
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Warning               MOUPG  SetupManager: Error retrieving setup platform result: [0x80070002]
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Info                  MOUPG  SetupManager::Reporting rollback event
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Error                 MOUPG  CSetupNotify::ReportEventW(182): Result = 0x80070422
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Error                 MOUPG  SetupManager::Reporting rollback event: [0xC1900101, 0x20017]
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Info                  MOUPG  SetupManager: RollbackCount = [16]
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Info                  MOUPG  SetupMgr: Entering rollback UI phase. Removing registry key [HKCU\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup\Volatile]
2013-10-20 10:37:42, Info                  MOUPG  CSetupUIManager::ShowRollBackMsg: Called!

Did you do the PC Reset?

Did you uninstall third-party anti-virus software?

Have you temporarily disabled Windows Firewall and Windows Defender?

Run the upgrade assistant. 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-assistant-download-online-faq

Or,

Scan the image to check for corruption

Open Command Prompt with elevated privileges

Type:  Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Press Enter

Check the image to see whether any corruption has been detected

Type:  Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Press Enter

If you bought a Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 product key, you can download and install Windows from this page. You'll have the option to install Windows now, later, or using media with an ISO file.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only