How to Fix Windows Media Creation Tool Error 0x80042405

The media creation tool allows you to download a Windows 10 installation file to a flash drive (or DVD) that you can then use to reinstall Windows 10, this being super useful in case something goes wrong with the computer and also allows you to have a printed copy of the operating system.

But lately users reported that their screens show error 0x80042405 – 0xA001B when they try to create a bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool. If this is your case, don't worry, today we will show you the steps to follow to solve it.

How to Fix Windows Media Creation Tool Error 0x80042405

Common Causes and Solutions:

Insufficient Administrative Privileges:

Resolution: Ensure the Media Creation Tool is launched with administrator rights. Right-click the application and select "Run as administrator" to provide the necessary permissions for creating a bootable USB drive.

USB Drive Formatting Issues:

Resolution: The USB drive must be formatted with the NTFS file system before proceeding.

Connect the USB drive to your computer.

Open File Explorer.

Locate the USB drive, right-click on it, and select Format.

Under "File system," choose NTFS.

Click Start to format the drive.

USB Drive Partitioning Errors:

Resolution (Advanced): Re-partitioning the USB drive using the DiskPart utility can address potential partitioning issues. This method involves command-line operations, so proceed with caution if unfamiliar with them.

Ensure the USB drive is connected to your system.

Search for Command Prompt in the Start menu and run as administrator (refer to step 1 for instructions).

Type diskpart and press Enter.

List available disks using the list disk command to identify the USB drive number.

Select the USB drive with select disk X (replace X with the actual disk number).

Type clean and press Enter to clean the drive (Caution: This erases all data on the USB drive).

Create a new primary partition with the desired size using create partition primary size=XXXX (replace XXXX with the size in megabytes). Press Enter.

Format the partition with NTFS using format fs=NTFS quick and press Enter.

System File Corruption (Uncommon):

Resolution: While less frequent, corrupted system files can hinder the Media Creation Tool. Consider running a system file checker (SFC scan) to identify and potentially repair these files.

Open Command Prompt as administrator (refer to step 1 for instructions).

Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will initiate a system scan and attempt to fix any corrupted files.

Outdated Windows System (Applicable to Older Windows 10 Versions):

Resolution: Microsoft released a specific update (KB4505903) to address this error in older Windows 10 iterations.

Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website [not a valid URL for update catalog].

Search for update KB4505903.

Download the version compatible with your system (32-bit or 64-bit).

Install the update and restart your computer.

Recommendations:

Third-party system cleaning utilities are not recommended for this specific error. The focus should be on USB drive preparation or potential system file corruption.

If the error persists, download the latest version of the Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.

We hope that with these solutions you can effectively fix error 0x80042405 and successfully create a bootable USB drive using Windows Media Creation Tool.