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
    2018-02-14T14:11:57+00:00

    Hello, I have tried that and I still have the same error. I tried different USB key and different system

    Unfortunately the media creation tool for Windows 10 - 1709 is broken.

    Microsoft, please fix it!

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T15:02:02+00:00

    Hello, I have tried that and I still have the same error. I tried different USB key and different system

    Unfortunately the media creation tool for Windows 10 - 1709 is broken.

    Microsoft, please fix it!

    Hi,

    I think the problem is since the program library is somewhere on your hard drive in order for it to work properly you would have to create an environmental variable or adjust your registry manually.  These days the steps required are handled by a wrapper script (installation wizard). 

    Putting the program in the same space as the data solves the problem for any program if you always use the USB with the entire program library installed on it.  How did you create the tool?  There has been a lot of water under the bridge since I did mine but I don't remember it being update specific?

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T15:16:50+00:00

    Hello, I have tried that and I still have the same error. I tried different USB key and different system

    Unfortunately the media creation tool for Windows 10 - 1709 is broken.

    Microsoft, please fix it!

    Hi,

    I think the problem is since the program library is somewhere on your hard drive in order for it to work properly you would have to create an environmental variable or adjust your registry manually.  These days the steps required are handled by a wrapper script (installation wizard). 

    Putting the program in the same space as the data solves the problem for any program if you always use the USB with the entire program library installed on it.  How did you create the tool?  There has been a lot of water under the bridge since I did mine but I don't remember it being update specific?

      Additionally, my problem was simply creating the boot data on the USB.  I am past the creator update issues but one of my systems is 5+ years and the hard drive is sounding funky so I am loading the entire system onto a new drive.  Haven't tried it yet; but for that purpose I must have a bootable drive.  Tom offered this solution so perhaps he knows if bootable is always necessary?

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-02-18T11:05:01+00:00

    I uninstalled the free trial version of McAfee - problem sorted.

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-02-18T15:26:33+00:00

    We have spend about 32 hours to fix this problem, did not try the clean boot installation, but all other sollutions to fix the problem failled like the installation. I think its time to capitulate and exept defeat, you need to be an IT specialist 2 do this update. Thanks microsoft for the **** products and service , can't complane about the service because there is non. Ps, the computer is 4 months old , but will be replaced by a computer working without any microsoft products.. regards, a disepointed customer.

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    9 people found this answer helpful.
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