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

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
Answer accepted by question author
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!

Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

227 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T13:41:42+00:00

    But this isn't new. I've had this issue for about 2 years. Maybe one thing I'm doing different is that I tell the tool to make me a USB drive with BOTH 32 and 64 bit versions. Maybe 99.9% of the people don't do this.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T13:40:12+00:00

    Maybe so, but none of this explains why the tool bombs about half way through the transfer of working, downloaded files to the thumb drive.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T13:39:12+00:00

    The stick has to have bootable code written to the bootsector first. Rufus can do that. I gave you all possible options and the best tutorial for doing them.

    I used to think this as well. However, I think something has changed. I say this because, I can format the stick, copy the code the tool dumps on the local disk onto the stick, and the thumb drive boots and will install Windows. Perhaps something in the code qualifies the drive as a UEFI boot device?

    I wanted to post this last night but answers.microsoft.com stopped letting me post for hours so I gave up. "Oops! Something went wrong. Try again."

    FAIL!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T05:16:30+00:00

    I believe that in the instructions you  can find that you can put the iso files onto an USB without having to download them to your computer.

    When you do this if the computer that you want to upgrade already has Windows 10 installed you can load the USB in File Explorer and open it then double click on Setup and proceed to upgrade the computer without having to boot from the USB.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments