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

322 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-05-22T22:20:06+00:00

    Copying the file to the USB key worked for me. Many thanks OP.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-05-22T17:01:35+00:00

    I had the same problem. While reading this solution and the comments to it, I realised that it might have something to do with RIGHTS. That is why I first tried:

    • download the tool
    • instead of just running it from the download folder by double click,

      I right-clicked and choose the option "Run as Administrator"

    Also this did the trick! I am not suggesting that Tom's solution is wrong, but this one gives a bit les the feeling: "Don't know why, but it worked!"

    Kind regards,

    Wim

    Theory is: Nothing works but everyone knows why not

    Practice is: everything works but nobody knows why

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-05-20T23:45:18+00:00

    The original "Fix" worked perfectly for me too, thanks a lot Tom!  AND, it fit perfectly on an 8GB SanDisk USB Drive, like it should be able to, still leaving 3.8GB free space...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2018-05-19T15:04:34+00:00

    Disabling the AntiVirus worked for me after trying all the various format suggestions.

    What did i do?

    I reformatted the USB drive to fat32 - Quick format option selected. Disabled all AntiVirus for the duration. copied the creation media to the USB and followed the defaults... and it worked.

    Hope this helps.

    Ralph

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2018-05-19T10:38:00+00:00

    What seemingly (I'm still in the process of creating the Windows 10 Setup) did it for me was disabling Avira Antivir's Autostart Blocker. It pops up at exactly 50% of creating the media, saying that it blocked something. The pop up also allows you to directly go to the window where you can switch it off. After a few seconds of being stuck at 50%, the setup has resumed now.

    Will edit this post if it still ends up not working ;-)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments