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
    2019-07-31T05:16:53+00:00

    PCR, 

    All this is just an exercise to show that the default allocation unit size is different depending on the size of the Device.

    If you format the device yourself you can pick the allocation unit size instead of using the default.

    MCT probably just uses the default size when it formats the USB device before it copies the files over.

    I just use MCT to prepare the USB installation media to see that it works.

    MCT 1903 never failed for me and I tried many different times with different USB brands and sizes.

    I don't really like using Windows 10 MCT to create the USB Installation media, because it is just a waste of time given that it downloads the whole package every time.

    I prefer using the MCT to download the Windows.iso file, when there is a new one, and then from the iso I can make as many USB devices or DVD's that I need without going through the download again.

    It is a much simpler process, just requires a few basic steps to prepare the USB device correctly and copy the files over.

    The Windows 7 MCT tool was much better because it allowed creating either the DVD or the USB device directly from the downloaded iso file.

    The problem is that they never upgraded the good tool for Windows 10 with the option of using FAT32 instead of NTFS.

    The Windows 10 MCT is a step backward. :(

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-07-31T06:45:26+00:00

    That explains our date differences. I did use MCT. My .ISO has dates like yours...

    If you used that to make your USB Installation media, it must have picked up those initial dates for everything. And here is its DISM, same as for the USB drive...

    Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.267]

    (c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    C:\WINDOWS\system32>DISM  /Get-WimInfo  /WimFile:E:\Sources\Install.esd  /Index:1

    Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

    Version: 10.0.18362.1

    Details for image : E:\Sources\Install.esd

    Index : 1

    Name : Windows 10 Home

    Description : Windows 10 Home

    Size : 14,229,531,906 bytes

    WIM Bootable : No

    Architecture : x64

    Hal : <undefined>

    Version : 10.0.18362

    ServicePack Build : 175

    ServicePack Level : 0

    Edition : Core

    Installation : Client

    ProductType : WinNT

    ProductSuite : Terminal Server

    System Root : WINDOWS

    Directories : 19610

    Files : 88906

    Created : 6/11/2019 - 9:35:39 PM

    Modified : 7/9/2019 - 8:51:48 PM

    Languages :

            en-US (Default)

    The operation completed successfully.

    C:\WINDOWS\system32>

    OK. I guess all the mysteries are solved, the size difference & the date differences. Very good, then. OK, bye.

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  3. VARADHARAJAN K 9,726 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2019-07-31T06:58:27+00:00

    to install Windows 10 . I need only one file  INSTALL.ESD  or INSTALL.WIM  is enough

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-07-31T07:12:29+00:00

    Just that file? Doesn't it have to be in an .ISO or on an Installation USB drive? And only the USB drive can do a clean install.

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