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 No comments

322 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2018-09-07T14:23:24+00:00

    Uhhhh, yeah. it is failing because the HDD IS FRIED. THX What works is $125. Call it 256ghz SSD

     ty

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-09-01T18:03:24+00:00

    Try:

    1. Right click on the tool you downloaded called: mediacreationtool.exe

    2. Click Properties

    3. Click on the tab: Compatibility

    4. Check the box that says: Run this program in compatibility mode for:

    5. Select "Windows 8" from the Drop Down Menu

    6. Check the box that says: Run this program as Administrator

    7. Click the "Apply" button

    8. Click the "OK" button

    9. Run the mediacreationtool.exe program again.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-08-31T21:45:31+00:00

    Or temporarily disable protection on the AV products.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2018-08-31T21:07:40+00:00

    Four failures!  Vary frustrating!  However, after reading through many replies, I came up with a plan that worked.  One respondent mentioned 'anti-virus' and a light went off.  My desktop (where the failures occurred) has three(!) active anti-virus/anti-malware programs running all the time.  (I know - not advised - but it usually causes no problems, and it DOES keep me bug-free.)  I fired up a laptop with only Windows Defender running, went through the process again, put the downloaded file on the USB flash drive, then executed - SUCCESS! 

    If you are experiencing Error Code: 0x80042405 - 0xA001A, try a different compter with a different anti-virus program (and only one running).  This may work for you, too.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2018-08-31T18:40:22+00:00

    Thank you. The solution worked for me.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments