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
    2018-04-29T21:13:43+00:00

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-04-28T08:14:17+00:00

    Hi,

    Eventually got this working (Parallels Desktop on Mac OS, running Windows 10 Pro).

    USB Formatted to FAT32

    • running MCT from desktop = error at exactly 50% when creating media
    • running MCT from USB stick = error at extactly 50% when creating media

    USB Formatted to NTFS

    • running MCT from desktop = worked first time!!

    Hope this helps someone...

    Cheers,

    M

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-04-23T09:50:57+00:00

    Unfortunately, this solution did not work for me. I am going to have to try and download the ISO version and burn it to a disc, and hope this method works. Thank you anyway.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-04-21T02:44:51+00:00

    I did a full format of my flash drive and then tried to download the windows 10 media creation tool as indicated on the Tech Deals video. This time it worked. The previous times when I did a quick format I got the error message. I am not back up and running with my computer after being locked out for a week.

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-04-19T17:22:54+00:00

    Fantastic post!  Really helped me out.  Thank you very much!

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