Windows 24H2 upgrade/recovery fails 0x1900201

[Mikkelrev69]

Hello. 

I got a second hand Zbook Fury 16 g9 around 1 mnth ago. Working very well was on win 11 23H2.

Except I found out a few days ago I couldn't get preview release 24H2 to install with either iso download with media creator or windows update. I get error code 0xc1900201 "install can't install on system partition.. Then I was stuck on insider program with no way to install pending 24H2 updates in win update. Had to reinstall with Windows "start over-clean install" to get out of program.I

I found a 100mb FAT32 system partition with only 2 mg space left on it and internet searches for this error code 0xc1900201 gives me info that I need to delete content like fonts folder etc on this partition to make space for new upgrade..

I had hopes for using hp cloud recovery tool to perform a clean formating install instead, but no, after booting up the usb the install program couldn't write to system folder either. Not even for reinstall of recovery image.

I realize I need to modify system partitions with either following web guides on how to do this with command prompts or using 3rd part partion managers.. 

Well I do not have the nerves to mess with my main drive. Was thinkin of adding 2nd M.2. drive and then cloning the disc and then trying to mess with the partitions.. But really this should not be necessary. 

Is it really this bad with 15 months old HP top model. What to do? Can't upgrade no more or use HP recovery cloud tool.

The machine is still under warranty. But closest HP service center is 500km away. Haven't talked to them yet.

There must be some kind of HP update or tool which can fix this by cleaning out and reinstall the proper partition content? Or else the **Fat32 100mb partition has to be extended and the "C" drive-windows partition has to be shrunk first to make room.. Some 3rd party partitions tools have flaws and I honestly don't have the nerves to gamble with my sole drive.. 

Is this a problem HP is aware of? Does HP have any solutions to offer? When the ordinary public windows 24H2 is going to roll out this fall, I guess many pc's will face the same issue. How is HP planning to solve this?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

This is a peer-to-peer forum.  We don't work for or represent HP.

I'm thinking the problem is unique to your PC or the model series in general, because I upgraded to W11 24H2 on all of my 13 different model notebook and desktop PC's Dell and HP with no problems at all.

Use the free Rufus utility to create a bootable USB flash drive with the most stable build of W11 24H2 ISO file which I believe is 26100.1586.

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

What I suggest you do is when you boot from the plain Windows 11 USB installer, run the dispart utility and clean the disk of all partitions:

1. Press Shift+F10 from inside Windows Setup screen to open a command prompt window.
2. Type diskpart and press the Enter key.
3. Type list disk to find your disk number.
4. Type select disk (e.g., select disk0) to choose the disk you want to format.
5. Finally, type clean to wipe the disk completely.
6. Exit diskpart and install Windows.

[Mikkelrev69]

Hello. 

Sorry, I was under the impression that HP-representatives attended this forum too. 

I tried the Rufus software. It doesn't work on my pc. It didn't find any device (total blank in the roll down menu) . Couldn't do anything with it.. 

I have Uploaded a mobile shot of my disk displayed in Aomei partition assistant. 

Do you see the very first Fat32 "active system" partition. It's full and it seems no upgrade or recoverytool can write to that partiton at all. Not even HP cloud recovery usb or windows media creation USB can install anything. 

I tested Aomei partition assistant and it seems it has have the capability to extend the Fat32 system part from 100 to 200 mg taking from C:win partition. It involves splitting and moving of "C" but this is done automaticly by Aomei.

So I guess I'm afraid to end up with no booting situation if I tamper with system partition

 

at all.. Any advice? Anyone have experience from this situation? 

Pls see my upload mobile shot

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You have to load the Intel storage controller drivers at the screen where Windows can't find any drives.

I have zipped up and attached the Intel storage controller drivers that Windows needs to find the drive.

The attached file is good for both W10 & W11.

Copy all of the files in both folders in the attached file to a USB flash drive.

Have the flash drive and your Windows installation media plugged into USB ports.

Boot from the W10/W11 installation flash drive.

When you get to the screen where no drives can be found, click on the Load driver option, browse to the flash drive with the storage controller drivers on it.

If you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.

Click Next and Windows should find the drive and install.

[Mikkelrev69]

I honestly have to say you lost me.. What I mean is Rufus app didn't work. Has it on my desktop now and it's like this

 Nothing to choose in the "device" box.

What you mean with "windows can't find drives" I don't understand.. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You have to browse to and select the W11 24 H2 ISO file that you downloaded by clicking on the VELG button.

Then when the ISO file is identified, select the GPT partition table, standard Windows installation, NTFS file system which should all show up as the default.

Rufus builds the bootable drive, reports 'Ready' and you use the bootable drive to install Windows.

[Mikkelrev69]

Yes I got that, but no choises comes up when I click any of the buttons in Rufus. Can't choose anything. When I click on the device list, It's just blank. The photo shows what came up after clicking in the device droplist box. Blank.. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I don't understand the problem.

I downloaded the W11 24H2 ISO file by joining the Windows insider program.

Then I used Rufus to transfer the ISO file to a USB flash drive.

I selected the ISO file I downloaded by clicking on the 'Select' button and browsing to the location where I had saved the file (my default downloads folder).

I used build 26100.1150 which is the latest stable Release Preview ISO file.

If you can't figure it out, download the W11 23H2 version using the Microsoft media creation tool from the link below (2nd option) and it will automatically create a bootable USB installation flash drive, and then you can upgrade to 24H2 via the Windows Insider program.

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

No matter which option you choose, you will need to install the Intel storage controller drivers that I zipped up and attached previously in order for Windows to find the drive.

[Mikkelrev69]

You misunderstand my problems. I have tried to install the 24h2 with both downloading the iso with media creation tool. Downloading and even create usb works fine. But installing the image gets error code 0xc1900201 because the install media can't write to a particular system partition it says. When that didn't work I went in the preview program at Windows update and when update 24h2 was downloaded and ready for install by windows update I got error code 0xc1900201 because it couldn't install on system partition. I googled the code and in every case the answer was that a particular system partition is to full to be written in during the installment process. Neither media creation tool, windows update could install anything. Not even HP cloud recovery tool could reinstall my existing image from usb. It's not possible to write in this (I suspect) Fat32 100mb small partition used to store boot data in. It is 97.1 mb full. Every explaination for 0xc1900201 code I found says that. Several videos out there showing how to either delete content using command prompt or using 3rd party partition managers to extend the partition.

This 0xc1900201 was a problem for many when upgrading W10 to higher builds also.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I believe I understand completely.

When you are wherever you are where you get the install media can't write to a particular system partition, you need to clean the disk at that point and start over.

1. Press Shift+F10 from inside Windows Setup screen to open a command prompt window.
2. Type diskpart and press the Enter key.
3. Type list disk to find your disk number.
4. Type select disk (e.g., select disk0) to choose the disk you want to format.
5. Finally, type clean to wipe the disk completely.
6. Exit diskpart and install Windows.

If that doesn't work, the NVMe SSD may be no good and I suggest you contact HP customer service starting at the link below for further assistance.

Kontakt HP | HP® Norge

Signing off.

Good luck,