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

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-23T15:25:11+00:00

    Like they used to say in cartoons, "It's crazy enough, it just might work."

    Sure enough, it worked.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-24T06:16:58+00:00

    NTFS + Setup file on USB + Admin Previleges Worked for me !! All other combinations failed for obviously unknown reasons... Magics can only be experienced not explained. Thanks TOM !!

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-24T13:29:28+00:00

    Worked perfectly for me.

    Thank you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-01-25T07:58:52+00:00

    I had the same issue.

    Each time it fails it would formatting my USB, and I left the USB's display name blank.

    The last time I change the USB's display name as "X", it solved the problem.

    After successfully installed, it changed the name to "ESD-USB".

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    10 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2018-01-25T09:58:54+00:00

    Thanks Tom!

    Can't believe such a buggy Microsoft product isn't fixed quickly, but your workaround worked for me!

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    3 people found this answer helpful.
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