Well, installing Windows on your PC can be a really stressful process, especially if you guys don’t know where to start. Fortunately, Microsoft recognized the plight of the users and also released the Media Creation Tool. A software that basically lets you download the latest version of Windows and install it onto your system as well. Whenever the tool works seamlessly most of the time, there have also been reported instances. Their users were unable to download the Windows installation files because of a certain error in the Creation Tool. If you guys have experienced this issue, then just read this article to know all about How to Fix Media Creation Tool Error 0x80042405-0xa001a. Let’s start!
How to Fix Media Creation Tool Error 0x80042405-0xa001a
The Media Creation Tool actually works in two different ways. It either upgrades your PC directly as well as it lets you create a bootable installation media through saving the Windows setup into a USB flash drive, a CD, as well as an ISO file. The 0x80042405-0xa001a error is mostly caused whenever you try to save the installation files on a USB drive. That does not support the NTFS file system as well as lacks the space in order to install Windows. Luckily, many workarounds will let you guys fix error code 0x80042405-0xa001a in the Media Creation Tool.
Downloading to USB Drive
The workaround which seems to work almost every time this error occurs is just to download the Media Creation Tool directly to the USB drive that you guys want to use a bootable device. In simple terms, you need to download the Tool into the same USB which you want to use as an installation media.
Normally, you guys would download the tool to your local drive C and then just launch the application from there. And try to create a bootable drive. Here we will also download it directly to the USB and run it from there as well.
Well, in a nutshell, Run the tool directly from the USB i.e. Just run MediaCreationTool.exe after locating it and then after choosing the source media. Just proceed with the media creation. You have to make sure that you are running the executable as an administrator.
Downloading in Hard Drive
In many cases, the first method doesn’t even work and the error code “0x80042405 – 0xA001A” is displayed. Hence, in this step, we will be copying the files to the USB Drive after downloading them on our computer’s hard disk. For that:
- First, download the media creation tool to Local Drive C
- Then launch the application download the files in the “C” drive
- Mount the “.iso” file which was downloaded via the media creation tool.
- Just copy all the files and folders in the Virtual DVD to the USB Drive which you guys want to set up as a Bootable USB except the “Autorun.inf” file.
- Right-click on the “Autorun.inf” file and then choose “Rename“.
- Now change the name to “Autorun.txt” and click on “Enter“.
- Copy this file to the USB drive as well and then rename it back to “Autorun.inf”.
- Check-in order to see if the issue persists.
Using Disk Management to convert to MBR | Error 0x80042405
Windows Media Creation Tool needs that your USB drive is set as an MBR (Master Boot Record) rather than GPT (GUID Partition Table). MBR is considered really important since it acts as a first boot sector. This characteristic of the hard drive permits you to actually ‘boot’ from the USB. We will actually use the Disk Management tool in Windows to format and then convert the disk type to MBR.
- Tap on Windows + R, type “diskpart” in the dialogue box, and click on Enter.
- Now enter the command:
list disk
- Now enter the command:
select disk x
Here ‘x’ is the number of the disk which you guys want to create to a bootable media. Well, one example is ‘select disk 0’.
- Now we have to clean the drive properly before attempting to convert it to an MBR. Just type the following commands in order but wait for the clean operation in order to complete before moving to the next.
clean convert mbr
- Now run Media Creation Tool again and then see if the issue is solved.
Formatting USB as NTFS
Another workaround that works well for some users is actually formatting the target USB as NTFS and then running the media creation tool. The reason for this bug is unknown as there shouldn’t be any problem in creating media in a FAT32 format. As the media creation tool formats the disk anyway before the creation. We will actually use the inbuilt disk formatting and after formatting the disk successfully, we will also attempt again.
- Tap on Windows + E and click on This-PC which is present at the left navigation bar.
- Here is your target USB device. Right-tap on it and choose Format.
- A window will also pop up asking you for all the additional details. Make sure that the format is all set as NTFS and proceed.
- After formatting the disk, run Media Creation Tool (you can also implement solution 1 here) and then see if the issue is resolved.
Using Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool | Error 0x80042405
Just the same as the media creation tool, Microsoft also released Windows 7 USB/DVS download tool in the Windows 7 days in order to help people in making installation media. This tool also almost performs the same task as the Media creation tool. However, you must have the entire ISO file already present in your system. The Media Creation Tool provides you a little incentive in which it can also download the files from Microsoft directly. However, here you have to do the step manually.
- You need to download the ISO file from Microsoft’s official website and store it in an accessible location.
- Download Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool from Microsoft’s official website and then install it on your computer.
- After installing, just run the application as an administrator. In the first step, you guys will be asked to choose the ISO file of which you want to create a bootable drive. Choose the ISO that you just downloaded and continue as well.
- Now choose the target drive. Follow the on-screen instructions and you guys will be making a bootable USB drive in no time.
Via Rufus to create Installation Media
Rufus is actually a utility that helps in formatting and creating bootable USB flash drives. It is a famous alternative to Windows Media Creation Tool. It is fast and also covers other aspects such as flashing BIOS as well as working on a system where no OS is installed. But, like in the previous case, you guys need to have an ISO file already downloaded locally on your PC.
Conclusion
Well, That is all from my side. If you want to know more about this article or have any queries. Then feel free to ask me anything in the comments section below.
Have a Good Day!
