Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Error: 0x80042405 - 0xA001A

Anonymous
2017-11-16T13:39:26+00:00

Greetings,

Recently, I have seen many people inquiring about this error regarding the Media Creation Tool. I myself got this error when I try to create a bootable USB drive (aka Create an Installable Media).

Here's what I tried:

Reformatting USB drive to FAT32

Deleting files

Tried to locate and run Setupprep.exe (I couldn't find this file in C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources or anywhere)

Change Startup Type of Update-Related Services (Startup Type: Manual -> Automatic)

Uninstalled and Reinstall Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

Made sure my USB is above 8Gb as instructed by the tool (it is 15Gb)

The Fix (for me at least):

1. Downloadthe Windows 10 Media Creation Tool directlyinto the USB drive that you want to use as a bootable device (meaning you download the Tool into the same USB you chose to use as an Installation Media). If you already downloaded the tool on your PC's Desktop, copy it into your USB.

2. Run the Tool directly from your USB, meaning you open File Explorer, locate the MediaCreationTool.exe in your USB and double-click to run it.

The installer should then create an Installation Media/Bootable USB.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Tom

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Reza-Ameri 45,891 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-12-25T18:40:48+00:00

    This is old discussion and it is great to see it solved problems.

    Therefore it will be locked and you may read other posts and if it helped you, you may recommend it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-12-25T18:15:58+00:00

    this worked for me finally after trying to get it onto my usb stick  twice before i found this solution thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-12-25T17:35:16+00:00

    Thank you, DeathForge666.

    Your post illustrates the underlying problem with this process: Inconsistency.

    The solution for one person does not work for others. My best guess is that the process can fail at a number of points and that is why we are seeing so many solutions.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-12-25T16:09:08+00:00

    well I got it finally all it took was doing it the normal way on a different pc then the one I use and it worked the first try

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-12-24T23:57:51+00:00

    I have had this issue for years and tried all sort of fixes in the past.  I have to keep downloading the Media Creation Tool until it finally works.  NOT SURE WHY MICROSOFT DOES NOT FIX OR GIVE A FIX TO GET SIMPLE APPLICATION TO WORK!!??  I think a few years of beta testing (pun intended) has been long enough.

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