Media Creation Tool Error 0x80042405 0xA001B

Anonymous
2019-05-22T02:24:49+00:00

I must be doing something wrong because I always have the update fail with some BS error like this. What are the proper steps to run this tool?

I download the tool to the desktop. I'm on an Admin account. I insert a 16GB thumb drive. I format it. I start the tool. I point it to the thumb drive. During the phase where the files are copied to the USB, I get some stupid error like this:

Why are my steps not good enough? Where is the hole in my logic? Or is this tool just written poorly. I'd like to use stronger language here as I used to have to start it all over again and burn bandwidth trying this failed endeavor over and over.

I've heard people make it work by running the tool FROM the USB. Why would that matter? I've tried to write files to the thumb drive just after the format and before running the tool to make sure I have successful writes. Doesn't help. 

As a workaround today, I left the error up for a bit. Tried to access the thumb drive and it said it needed to be formatted AGAIN! So I did. Then I just opened the C:$Windows.~WS\Sources\Windows and copied the files to the drive by hand. Made the dang thing myself! WHO WRITES THIS STUFF??

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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Kapil Arya 38,446 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2019-10-23T10:23:40+00:00

Hello,

I would suggest you to create latest media. Download the Media Creation Tool using this link:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209

Hope this helps!

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-09-12T21:21:15+00:00

    Glad this worked for you. However, it could be just random success. Many of us don't use any 3rd party AV. I wonder if Windows Defender could be blocking autorun and not be reporting it.

    Roy, 

    I have windows defender and had it always, but I never get this error With MCT even on my attempts to reproduce it on purpose. :(

    With so many different workarounds reported, looks like there is more than one source for this issue.

    The only case I personally saw was due to a marginal SanDisk Ultra USB device that was failing intermittently in some USB ports and not on others depending on the voltage supplied by the port.

    I just got rid of the bad device and tried with many other different devices and brands and never got the error again.

    Since there is no unique common cause for this error message, I think every failure case needs to be analyzed separately.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-09-12T20:08:35+00:00

    Glad this worked for you. However, it could be just random success. Many of us don't use any 3rd party AV. I wonder if Windows Defender could be blocking autorun and not be reporting it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-09-12T19:10:56+00:00

    I had the same issue, and noticed that around the 50% mark, it would fail. At the 50% mark, the antivirus (Avira) would pop up saying it blocked autorun of the file on the USB. I disabled the antivirus' ability to block autorun of the file. Trying to create the USB this time worked!

    Philal121,

    Good catch !

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-09-12T13:52:49+00:00

    I had the same issue, and noticed that around the 50% mark, it would fail. At the 50% mark, the antivirus (Avira) would pop up saying it blocked autorun of the file on the USB. I disabled the antivirus' ability to block autorun of the file. Trying to create the USB this time worked!

    Was this answer helpful?

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