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

Which of the many solutions offered in this thread have you tried?

Not sure why but i have tried to make this work but it won't for me and I was really hoping to get my new build up and running latter today

I just left the drive name empty, but turning off all unnecessary programs in the background and closing all open windows and not touching my computer while the process was running did the trick.

Just putting the tool on USB didn't work, apparently you also need to close all other running programs.

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

FINAL SOLUTION - This works 100% - Tried it 5 Times

1. Quick formatted the USB Flash Drive as NTFS
2. Give it a volume name of X
3. Disable ALL Malware and AV software
4. Copy the installer to the USB Flash Drive
5. Run the installer as Administrator from the USB Flash Drive
6. After starting the process of making a USB-based installer, close all browser and File Explorer windows.

This was painful and took a lot of time. I hope this helps.

Trying to make a Windows 10 bootable USB stick. Used two different PC's, several USB sticks, formatted and reformatted.  Coping the Media Tool to the USB worked.

Thanks much,  Chuck