Solved Win11 Update keeps failing

Good day,

Windows 11, version 23H2 (repair version) Install error - 0xc1900101

The issues started when I restarted the system after I saw a message telling me there were updates available (awaiting restart). The updates were installing when I got the message “something did not go as expected, let’s undo some of the changes”, something I’ve never experienced before. It seems the update failed, and with-it files must have gotten corrupted along the way.

This hiccup seems to have broken the functionality of the machine since most of the drivers are failing to do their job: most external hard drives stopped showing up in the file explorer. The VLC application crashes the moment you click on it, so I assume the drivers for that have stopped working. Then the sound stopped coming through the speakers, and then the HDMI will not connect. When I go to device manager and try to update the drivers with an exclamation mark next to them, I get the message "driver found but could not be installed".

I tried a repair reinstall (In-Place Upgrade) by downloading a repair version as well an ISO image. I needed to mount the ISO image, but the PC is not cooperating and giving me error messages each time I try ("Sorry, there was a problem mounting the file"). To circumvent that problem, I unzipped the ISO file onto the desktop and run setup.exe, but I still end up with a “failed installation” error message after reaching 71%.

Running sfc /scannow yields: Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Running Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth gets me a "source not found" message.

Hopefully all this rambling made some sense, and a solution could be found.
Thanks in advance.

Just the usual advice

0xc1900101 is typically a driver error. I read your thread 3 times, and yes it's difficult to 100% piece the scenario of events together so my explanation of how I see it is probably just as convaluted but here goes.

1) What update originally attempted to apply and failed which started the entire series of events? Was it a 23h2 monthly cumulative or did your machine attempt to upgrade to 24h2 that originally failed? In either case, at this point your system SHOULD have still been in a working condition as the failue SHOULD have rolled back. Is this the case? Or is this the point nothing worked?

2) You then mentioned downloading the iso and using it for a repair upgrade which also failed. Was this iso for 23h2 or 24h2? If the iso you downloaded was for 24h2, there are known issues with devices using a WD ssd and incompatibility with 24h2 at this time (but your WD is not on the list so ????). There are also other known issues with some devices, so without knowing WHICH driver caused the original failure there's no way for us to know. If you attempted to use this iso to repair an already corrupt install of 23h2, it failed, and then also failed to rollback, there's no telling what version you ended up being on or what condition Windows files are now in. Your current state may be so unstable you now can't get that information to provide us..

From what you decribed, IMO your machine is so unstable it is in a non-recoverable state. If you have a system image made before you got into this mess, you can restore the image to get back to a working condition. My only other advice is a clean install and at this point, I would make darn sure the iso I used to clean install with is a 23H2 iso.

Hopefully someone else sees it differently and has better news.

It would also help if we knew the actual hardware in your laptop. The reason I ask is that there are known issues installing 24H2 on specific WD NVME drives for one issue, and if we know you don't have one of those, it would help to narrow down the problem. There are other issues as well.

If you could, could you update your "My Computer" on your profile with as much info as you can?

i too cannot update past 96%. i get the something went wrong undoing changes message every time!.....this has been happening since the early part of summer...REDICULOUS!. i have read where there are problems with the WD SSD's...i have two installed but mine aren't one of those mentioned but still i think it might be my problem as i have tried EVERY solution posted on the microsoft forums to no avail. here are my specs:

Beelink SER5
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 5560U with Radeon Graphics 2.30 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (28.9 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 23H2
Installed on ‎1/‎26/‎2023
OS build 22631.3447
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22688.1000.0

here are the error messages from my last try at installation:


The SSD'S i have installed WD BLUE SN570 NVMe for OS , WD Blue SA510 NVMe for storage...Both 1 TB.

Sicario67 said:

i too cannot update past 96%.

Click to expand...

While the reason for your failure may well be one or both the WD drives, keep in mind having WD drives is not the only reason MS has pulled the 24h2 upgrade for some devices nor the only reason the upgrade fails. Mine failed multiple times and my machine did not meet any of the conditions MS has announced. It took a complete clean install for me.

As far as keeping the firmware of your drives updated, did you install the Western Digital Dashboard to see if there was a firmware update for either or both as suggested here?

You would need to look at the failure logs to see the cause of your failure.Depending on where in the install the failure occurs, the log can be in multiple places.

If no error message occurs, the following log files are created when an upgrade fails during installation before the computer restarts for the second time. You have to look at these logs to get an idea of what's causing the failure.

• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\setupact.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\miglog.xml
• C:\Windows\setupapi.log
• [Windows 10:] C:\Windows\Logs\MoSetup\BlueBox.log
• C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.app.log
• C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log
• C:\Windows\panther\PreGatherPnPList.log
• C:\Windows\panther\PostApplyPnPList.log
• C:\Windows\memory.dmp

The following log files are created when an upgrade fails, and then you restore the desktop:

• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\setupact.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\miglog.xml
• C:\$Windows.~BT\sources\panther\setupapi\setupapi.dev.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\sources\panther\setupapi\setupapi.app.log
• C:\Windows\memory.dmp

The following log files are created when an upgrade fails, and the installation rollback is initiated:

• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Rollback\setupact.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Rollback\setupact.err

Mine rolled back so I found mine in the last 2 logs..
If logfiles do not direct you to what caused the error, I advice anyone to not waste his time. Either stay where you are or Bite the bullet and do a clean install. 24h2 will have you chasing your tail for days.

Please run the V2 log collector > post a share link

zbook said:

Please run the V2 log collector > post a share link

BSOD - Posting Instructions

BSOD - Posting Instructions This will show you how to help provide needed information about your system and dump files. It will not contain any personal or sensitive information about you or your data. To get better help with your Windows BSOD issue, please read these instructions and follow...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

ok...here is the V2 Log zip and the pic of the errors it encountered.....i also am posting the CBS.Log.

glasskuter said:

While the reason for your failure may well be one or both the WD drives, keep in mind having WD drives is not the only reason MS has pulled the 24h2 upgrade for some devices nor the only reason the upgrade fails. Mine failed multiple times and my machine did not meet any of the conditions MS has announced. It took a complete clean install for me.

As far as keeping the firmware of your drives updated, did you install the Western Digital Dashboard to see if there was a firmware update for either or both as suggested here?

SanDisk SSDs, Memory Cards, and Flash Drives for Your Digital Life | SanDisk

Find detailed answers to your support questions for your SanDisk or WD_BLACK products.

support-en.sandisk.com

You would need to look at the failure logs to see the cause of your failure.Depending on where in the install the failure occurs, the log can be in multiple places.

If no error message occurs, the following log files are created when an upgrade fails during installation before the computer restarts for the second time. You have to look at these logs to get an idea of what's causing the failure.

• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\setupact.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\miglog.xml
• C:\Windows\setupapi.log
• [Windows 10:] C:\Windows\Logs\MoSetup\BlueBox.log
• C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.app.log
• C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log
• C:\Windows\panther\PreGatherPnPList.log
• C:\Windows\panther\PostApplyPnPList.log
• C:\Windows\memory.dmp

The following log files are created when an upgrade fails, and then you restore the desktop:

• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\setupact.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\panther\miglog.xml
• C:\$Windows.~BT\sources\panther\setupapi\setupapi.dev.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\sources\panther\setupapi\setupapi.app.log
• C:\Windows\memory.dmp

The following log files are created when an upgrade fails, and the installation rollback is initiated:

• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Rollback\setupact.log
• C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Rollback\setupact.err

Mine rolled back so I found mine in the last 2 logs..
If logfiles do not direct you to what caused the error, I advice anyone to not waste his time. Either stay where you are or Bite the bullet and do a clean install. 24h2 will have you chasing your tail for days.

Click to expand...

Yes...My Firmware is up to date....

Sicario67​

See rule #4:


Troubleshooting help can be provided after Windows is activated without volume activation.

Please create a separate thread.

I'm having the same problem with KB5044384. I think I get to 57% before it fails.
I have the WIndowsUpdate.log, setupact.log and MEMORY.DMP files but no c:\$Windows directory. Got as far as running SFC which found some files and repaired. It didn't help but I still need to try DISM.

zbook said:

Sicario67​

See rule #4:

Terms and rules

You must agree to these terms and rules before using the site.

www.elevenforum.com

Troubleshooting help can be provided after Windows is activated without volume activation.

Please create a separate thread.

Click to expand...

what does this mean?....i have an active windows license.....and what does rule #4 have to do with my posting the logs you asked me to post?

Sicario67 said:

what does this mean?....i have an active windows license.

Click to expand...

@zbook This appears to be a new Beelink. Does the log show a VL? Surely to goodness Beelink isn't selling these minis without a valid underlying OEM license. I'm really interested because I'm planning on buying one soon. If Beelink is doing this I'd like to know.

glasskuter said:

@zbook This appears to be a new Beelink. Does the log show a VL? Surely to goodness Beelink isn't selling these minis without a valid underlying OEM license. I'm really interested because I'm planning on buying one soon. If Beelink is doing this I'd like to know.

Click to expand...

My Windows 11 Pro Software is Licensed

Please activate Windows without volume activation (MAK / KMS / etc.)

zbook said:

Please activate Windows without volume activation (MAK / KMS / etc.)

Click to expand...

AGAIN....My Windows 11 Pro IS active AND Licensed....

Sicario67 said:

AGAIN....My Windows 11 Pro IS active AND Licensed....

Click to expand...

You’re really not listening to what is being asked of you or mentioned.

MAK keys are special keys that have multiple activations (Volume Licensing)
A company can purchase say 50 activations with that key, so they could use that same code on many PCs without needing a special key management server.
The key you bought is not yours and is likely being resold by entities trying to make a quick $. If MS or the company figures out the code has been compromised, they can revoke it and your activation will then fail.
But you could also fly under the radar.

How much did you pay? $5.00?

antspants said:

You’re really not listening to what is being asked of you or mentioned.

MAK keys are special keys that have multiple activations (Volume Licensing)
A company can purchase say 50 activations with that key, so they could use that same code on many PCs without needing a special key management server.
The key you bought is not yours and is likely being resold by entities trying to make a quick $. If MS or the company figures out the code has been compromised, they can revoke it and your activation will then fail.
But you could also fly under the radar.

How much did you pay? $5.00?

Click to expand...

i bought the mini PC off of Amazon...the software came pre installed.

Sicario67 said:

i too cannot update past 96%. i get the something went wrong undoing changes message every time!.....this has been happening since the early part of summer...REDICULOUS!. i have read where there are problems with the WD SSD's...i have two installed but mine aren't one of those mentioned but still i think it might be my problem as i have tried EVERY solution posted on the microsoft forums to no avail. here are my specs:

Beelink SER5
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 5560U with Radeon Graphics 2.30 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (28.9 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 23H2
Installed on ‎1/‎26/‎2023
OS build 22631.3447
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22688.1000.0

here are the error messages from my last try at installation:
View attachment 114790

The SSD'S i have installed WD BLUE SN570 NVMe for OS , WD Blue SA510 NVMe for storage...Both 1 TB.

Click to expand...

Sicario67 said:

i too cannot update past 96%. i get the something went wrong undoing changes message every time!.....this has been happening since the early part of summer...REDICULOUS!. i have read where there are problems with the WD SSD's...i have two installed but mine aren't one of those mentioned but still i think it might be my problem as i have tried EVERY solution posted on the microsoft forums to no avail. here are my specs:

Beelink SER5
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 5560U with Radeon Graphics 2.30 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (28.9 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 23H2
Installed on ‎1/‎26/‎2023
OS build 22631.3447
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22688.1000.0

here are the error messages from my last try at installation:
View attachment 114790

The SSD'S i have installed WD BLUE SN570 NVMe for OS , WD Blue SA510 NVMe for storage...Both 1 TB.

Click to expand...

these issues were RESOLVED by swapping out the WD SN570 SSD back to the Intel SSD and ALL updates downloaded and installed...the WD SSD's have issues.