I’m finally trying to upgrade my Windows 10 PC to Windows 11, but the setup keep?

YFVSOzfRIAgF · Post by **YFVSOzfRIAgF** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 4:51 pm

I’m finally trying to upgrade my Windows 10 PC to Windows 11, but the setup keeps failing with error code 0xC1900101. My main worry is my files. I did a full backup to an external drive using File History before starting, but is that actually enough? Should I also create a system image? I don’t want to lose anything if the upgrade rolls back or fails completely.

MpTUX · Post by **MpTUX** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 4:51 pm

Agreed. This happened to me, and a File History backup was enough to restore my personal files, but a system image would have saved me a ton of time reinstalling programs.

870204yTY5 · Post by **870204yTY5** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:11 pm

I had this issue last year during my upgrade. That error code often points to a driver conflict, so I'd check for updates on your graphics card and chipset drivers first. Your File History backup should cover personal files, but a system image is a good safety net if the upgrade goes really sideways.

39hyxmqmmcea · Post by **39hyxmqmmcea** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:35 pm

Yeah, that's solid advice. One extra tip: temporarily disconnect any non-essential peripherals like printers or external drives before you try the upgrade again—sometimes that clears it up.

u0zy3zc911M · Post by **u0zy3zc911M** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:45 pm

Agreed. Also, have you checked if your PC meets all the Windows 11 requirements, like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?

56ovm · Post by **56ovm** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:06 pm

Yeah, that driver tip is spot on. A quick extra step: run the Windows Update troubleshooter first—it sometimes clears the path for the upgrade.

lFBbRN44e · Post by **lFBbRN44e** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:13 pm

I had the same problem. That error often pops up if a driver is incompatible, so I had to update my graphics card driver first. Hope that helps.

Cs42hkr56S · Post by **Cs42hkr56S** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:26 pm

Can confirm. Yeah, that backup should be fine for your personal files. I also made a system image just for extra peace of mind before I finally got it to work. Hope that helps.

aSMuURoRWTlJ · Post by **aSMuURoRWTlJ** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 7:11 pm

Can confirm this worked for me too!

ssSlqaPl · Post by **ssSlqaPl** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 8:23 pm

This. I had the same problem with that error. My File History backup was enough to restore my personal files after I used the Media Creation Tool for a clean install instead. Hope that helps.