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. Anonymous
    2018-12-03T19:12:49+00:00

    It works!

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-11-26T21:43:26+00:00

    If you were using an activated copy of Windows 10 previously on this same computer and the version you just installed is the same (64-bit v. 32-bit, Pro vs. Home, etc.) then it should automatically reactivate. Re-activation is now based on the computer hardware.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-11-26T17:20:18+00:00

    So to confirm the post above, I am typing this from my new SSD so clearly the method worked for me.

    One sidenote however, it seemed to have lost the activation key in the process not just from the BIOS but also it can't find one linked to my account?? I'm 100% sure I had this account logged in on my HDD and that windows was also fully functioning and activated.. Anyway there's no way I'm paying them 145 dollars for their incompetence so will be fun to get this fixed again.. So far no luck at their own support page.

    Long story short: Microsoft, as always, makes me question my will to live but at least my PC works now.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-11-26T15:49:18+00:00

    I found one final workaround for the people who can't get it done still (like me).

    Use the windows Media Creation Tool to generate an ISO copy of your windows. Then use a program like Rufus to burn the ISO onto your flashdrive in the FAT32 format. Obviously this is gonna take a much longer time so first make sure the easy fixes don't work, but if you're out of luck this looks like a very tempting last resort option.

    Did this myself and it successfully wrote to my USB device, don't have my SSD installed yet so will update later on whether it actually boots or not.

    source: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/error-code-0x80042405-0xa001a-media-creation-tool

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-11-22T07:14:18+00:00

    Once again this community has help this average joe fix his PC 

    Thank You

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