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
    2019-05-23T01:48:37+00:00

    Wow!  Never had to copy the creation media tool to the USB stick before. It worked for me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T17:37:53+00:00

    Mine had only 1 partition formatted FAT32 as per Disk Management GUI. When I do the format, I just right click the drive and do a Quick Format to the stick itself. But I've verified it's only got the one partition in Disk Management. I've not done a CLEAN from DISKPART because I'm on other projects at the moment. 

    Note: I alwlays select to have the Media Creation Tool install both 32 and 64 bit versions. I have clients who sometimes need 32. 

    Also, I'm not saying that you testing it isn't valid. But I sometimes get a 100% sucessfull run on the 2nd try. Sometimes the 3rd. My client today got a good stick on his 2nd try. I'm just sick of needing more than one. How hard can it be for the MCT to just work? I just think things should work properly. Like a Dyson!

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T14:01:13+00:00

    I only started formatting the drive first because it failed and I was sick of the tool downloading over and over. I figured formatting in advance would be a solution since, when I try to open the USB drive after the error pops, Windows says I have to format the USB drive to open it.

    *"*It will format the drive the way it needs."

    Does it make sense to you that the tool can't get its job done on a freshly formatted stick? 

    I just heard back from my first client. The tool failed him the 1st time making the USB drive also. He had to run it twice.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T13:47:47+00:00

    You stated you formatted the flash drive, don't do that.  It will format the drive the way it needs.  If you aren't using a 32 GB drive, then you might try.

    I am seeing strange install situations when using the normal Install Media flash drive , which I create after mounting the .iso, for this build upgrade.  If I can't make one the way it has been done for years, maybe the online process is also having problems.

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