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: Oldest
  1. 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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Neil D 34,280 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2019-05-22T14:02:28+00:00

    When you run the Media Creation Tool have you tried selecting Run as Administrator.?

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T14:17:00+00:00

    No since I am an administrator. Guess I could since I would do a headstand to get it to run the very first time.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-22T14:40:02+00:00

    file a bug report; send me the short link so I can vote on it and bring it to the attention of the Windows engineers.

    https://windows10.help/blogs/entry/54-how-to-su...

    Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments