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
    2019-06-01T17:56:29+00:00

    While creating a USB drive copy of Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with Version 1903, I encountered the same error message shortly after the media creation routine started writing to the USB drive.  I had one other USB drive plugged into my system when this occurred. I removed the 2^nd^ UBS drive and started the entire download again which completed as expected.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-06-01T12:06:52+00:00

    Thank you for adding your experience with this issue to the thread. Do you recall if you used the option to just make the version for your PC or if you made both 32 and 64 bit versions installers?

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-06-01T09:20:43+00:00

    I got that error message today. I did your other solution of try & try again...

    It was the 3rd try that worked. I did two before getting here. The 2nd was with a fresh MediaCreationTool1903.exe (MCT) after a reboot, but I didn't delete $Windows.~BT & $Windows.~WT first. On the 3rd try, I did delete them, but didn't reboot or take another fresh MCT.

    On that 3rd try I meant to run the MCT as an Administrator, but forgot to do so. Never had to do so in the past & never needed more than one try, either.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-30T09:17:41+00:00

    Yeah, this is pretty huge, Robbie. Thanks. I'll have to try process explorer. What you said makes perfect sense. I'll let you know and give you an up-vote if it helps.

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