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.

0 comments No comments

322 answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-06-07T14:45:14+00:00

    Moving it to the USB drive and running it as administrator still doesn't work in my case.  I've tried 4 different USB sticks on 3 different computers over 2 different internet connections.

    Please

    Microsoft

    Just

    Sort

    Your

    Code

    Out

    Does anyone know where you can download the old version or just one that actually works?

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-06-02T10:41:44+00:00

    Just boots my usb out for a few secs at 56% and then gives an error..

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-06-02T10:25:58+00:00

    How has this issue not been fixed yet in 2018... 

    Don't expect people to pay for a license and then having to fix this crap on their own.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2018-06-01T14:02:13+00:00

    Please help. This doesn't work for me

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2018-05-31T10:17:28+00:00

    I, too, kept getting Error Code 0x80042405-0xA001A. But this time it worked.

    I used Edge to download the Media Creation tool (Firefox downloads always failed).

    Next, the version of Win 10 was updated to v.1803 so that it matched the downloaded file (MediaCreationTool1803).

    This may be the key: I used the long format app on the drive. Using quick format always resulted in the run failure (0x80042405-0xA001A).

    Also, I used the trick of copying the MediaCreationTool from downloads to the USB before Opening it to run.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments