How To Fix Windows Error Code 0x80042405-0xA001A

The bootable discs and USB drives containing the files required to install Windows 10 are made using the Media Creation Tool (MCT). This tool is generally used for installing Windows on computers. Users may run across the error 0x80042405-0xA001A when attempting to install or update Windows 10. This error also prevents users from using the Media Creation Tool.

Key Takeaways

• Error 0x80042405-0xA001A appears when you try to install/update Windows 10/11, preventing users from accessing the Media Creation Tool.
• It usually happens when the ISO files you use for Windows 10/11 have issues or the drive format isn’t NTFS. A bug in the MCT, active antivirus programs, or incorrect disc settings could also be a culprit.
• You can fix this error by correcting drive formatting, ensuring the drive has enough space, setting GPT (GUID Partition Table) to MBR (Master Boot Record), changing the start-up type, or running MCT as administrator.

What Does Error Code 0x80042405-0xA001A Mean?

When using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (MCT), an error code 0x80042405-0xA001A, appears because of Windows 10/11 ISO file issues or the drive format isn’t correct for which you are creating a bootable drive.

At first, MCT will work as expected while displaying the message “Creating Windows 10/11 Media – Progress 40%” and becoming unresponsive later on with the error code 0x80042405-0xA001A stating that “There was an error running this tool.”

When the error appears, you’ll see the following message:

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Windows Error Code 0x80042405-0xA001A (Causes & Fixes)

This MCT error may occur due to several causes, such as:

• USB drive is not an NTFS.
• The USB drive needs more storage.
• Media Creation Tool bug.
• Incorrect disc settings.
• Not running Media Creation Tool from USB drive.
• An active antivirus program.

Below are the methods to start troubleshooting the error 0x80042405-0xA001A.

Run MCT As Administrator

You can try running MCT as an administrator to resolve the issue. It is a simple 2 click fix through which you can overcome the error, as running programs with admin rights allows you to proceed without restrictions and permission issues. To do so, open the Media Creation Tool from your USB drive and select Run as Administrator. See if your error resolves by this method.

Disable Antivirus Software

Antivirus software interferes with internet connections, prevents apps and services from operating properly, and causes PC problems. Media Creation Tool faces issues due to third-party antivirus software like McAfee, F-Secure SENSE, and BitDefender.

Before trying this method, backup your system to undo any potential damage. Also, remember that this method can put your system at risk of being attacked by any virus, so this should be the last resort.

Here’s how you can turn off antivirus:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and opt for Task Manager.

   

2. Expand the taskbar if it shows the compact mode by selecting the Mode details option.
3. Go to the header menu and move to the Start-up tab.

   

4. Please browse the list until you find your antivirus program, then click once to select it.
5. To prevent the software from running when your PC turns on, look for the Disable button at the bottom of the window and click on it.

   

Now, restart your system and try to use the MCT or update Windows through it.

Also Read: Windows 11: Computer Won’t Wake Up From Sleep [SOLVED]

Change Start-up Type

Another way to fix the error is to select a different start-up type of update service.

Here’s how:

1. To launch the Run dialogue box, hit the Windows+R keys.Type services.msc and hit Enter.

   

2. Look for the services list given below and their status. Click on the Start option by right-clicking it if any services are disabled.
   Windows Update
   TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
   Server
   Background Intelligent Transfer Service
   IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
   Workstation
3. From the list of services, open Windows Update and change its Start-up type to Automatic and OK.

   

Now, try to launch MCT again. Your error may have been resolved.

Try A Different USB Port

If you cannot use the Media Creation Tool and face an error, you can try to fix it by changing the USB port. The current USB port could malfunction and cause the issue.

Follow these steps: 

1. Firstly, ensure that your system does not currently use your USB drive to run any program, file, or application.
2. Go to Taskbar’s right corner, look for an upward arrow, and click on it.

   

3. You will see a connected USB; click on it and choose Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media.

   

4. Please take out your USB drive and plug in a different USB port.

Try running MCT and the error will surely be resolved.

Format USB As NTFS

Check the format of your USB drive, and if it is set to FAT32, then this might be triggering the error 0x80042405-0xA001A. Always keep the USB drive format to NTFS while using it to create a bootable drive.

Here’s how:

1. Press Ctrl+E to launch the File Explorer and then click This PC.
2. You will see a format window; confirm that the file system is NTFS.

   

3. To begin formatting the USB disc, click Start.

   

Now, go for installing and running the Media Creation Tool, and it will be successful.

Create NTFS Partition

You can fix the error by removing your USB driver’s old partitions and forming a fresh NTFS partition.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition, a useful partition manager.
2. Launch and run the tool.
3. Choose the USB drive partition you want to remove and click Delete Partition.
4. Look at the left side of the window, and you will find the option Create partition, click on it.
5. Choose OK after selecting NTFS as the partition’s file system.
6. Now, hit Apply to proceed with the operations that are pending.

Download MCT On USB

The Media Creation Tool helps fix the error when downloaded straight to the USB drive you wish to use as the bootable device. When you download the tool’s setup, select USB as the location.

Here are the steps:

1. Plug a USB drive with sufficient storage into your PC and open the browser.
2. Go to the Microsoft website and select a version of Windows 10 MCT.
3. Download the file on a 64-bit or 32-bit OS per your system configuration.
4. When the downloader prompts to choose the location to save the file, opt for the USB drive under This PC.
5. After the setup downloads, open File Explorer.
6. Jump to This PC and click on the USB drive.
7. Run the MCT and comply with the instructions appearing on the screen.

Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

This is another way to eliminate Windows Error Code 0x80042405-0xA001A.

Here’s how to disable USB Selective Suspend Setting:

1. To open the Run dialogue box, press Windows + R.
2. Type control there and press OK. The Control Panel will appear.

   

3. Set the view mode to Category.

   

4. Jump to the Hardware and Sound section.

   

5. From the Power Options area, opt for Change when the computer sleeps.

   

6. Find the option Change advanced power settings and select it. A new window will appear.

   

7. Go to the USB section, and click the + icon to expand the options.

   

8. Next, click on the USB selective suspend to expand more settings and opt for Disabled.

   

9. Hit the Apply option followed by OK to close the window.

Launch the MCT, and this method will surely eliminate the error.

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Download MCT On Hard Drive

If downloading directly to USB didn’t work as intended, then download the MCT setup to the Hard Drive.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Download MCT to the local drive and launch it when the setup finishes downloading.
2. Now, mount the ISO file that the media creation tool downloaded.
3. Leaving the Autorun.inf file, copy all the content to the USB drive you want to make bootable.
4. Now, go back to the Autorun.inf file and right-click on it.
5. Choose Rename, change the .inf extension to the .txt as Autorun.txt, and hit Enter.
6. Copy and paste the same file into the USB drive where all the other files are, then change the extension back to Autorun.inf.

After this, try installing the Windows through USB and see if the error is gone.

GPT To MBR

The Master Boot Record (MBR) rather than the GUID Partition Table (GPT) setting is required for the Media Creation Tool to function properly.

Here’s how you can alter settings:

1. Hit Windows+R to launch the Run dialogue box.
2. Type the disk part and hit Enter.

   

3. You will be prompted to confirm by User Account Control (UAC), so click Yes.
4. Copy the command: list disk and Enter to execute.

   

5. A list of connected disks will appear. Now copy this command: select disk # ( replace # with the number of the disk you use) and hit Enter.

   

6. Next, type this command: clean and Enter to execute. It will clean previous data.

   

7. Now, copy and paste the command: convert mbr.

   

Once all the steps are done, try to launch the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and check if the issue has been fixed.

Reset User Profile

Try fixing the error by resetting your user profile. You can try manually making a new user profile, and the error may resolve. Here’s how:

1. Access the control panel and open User Accounts.

   

2. Go to Manage Another Account.

   

3. Select Create New Account and then opt for Create New Profile.
4. Put all the details in it, hit Finish Setup Wizard, and your new user profile is created.
5. Please back up all the data stored on the old user profile beforehand, then delete it.

Give MCT another go to find out whether the problem has been resolved.

Windows 7 USB Download Tool

Microsoft also released software for downloading Windows 7 onto a USB drive to make installation media. Like MCT, this tool works similarly. However, you should have the whole ISO file on your PC. The Media Creation Tool benefits you by directly downloading the files from Microsoft, but in this case, you need to download the files manually.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the MS website and get the ISO files. Please save it to an easily accessible folder after downloading.
2. Now, download the Windows 7 USB download tool from the Microsoft website.

   

3. Open the downloads folder, install the program, and launch it as administrator.
4. A prompt will appear to select the ISO file. Opt for the one you just downloaded to create a bootable drive.
5. Next, choose a drive and follow the instructions on-screen to create a bootable USB device quickly.

Use Rufus

Rufus is a tool that helps create bootable USB drives and is a well-known substitute for Windows Media Creation Tool.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to Rufus website from your browser and click on Download.

   

2. Look for the latest version of the tool and download it.
3. Launch Rufus by going to your PC’s download folder.
4. Jump to Settings, look for the option Check for updates, and select it.
5. Check the Daily option and hit the Close button.
6. Now, close the application.
7. Relaunch the Rufus tool and go to the Device section.
8. Choose USB from the drop-down to start creating bootable media.
9. Jump to the drop-down menu of Boot selection and opt for the Disk or ISO image.

   

10. Hit on the down arrow button on right and click Download.
11. Here, go for Windows 10 and Continue.
12. Jump to the Release section and choose the version of Windows 10.
13. Click Continue and again on the Edition setting.
14. Select language and again click Continue.
15. Now, opt for the OS architecture you want, either 64-bit or 32-bit, according to your system.
16. Hit Download and select the location to save the ISO file.
17. Give your USB device a name if you wish to, as it’s optional in the Volume label.
18. Go with the default settings when it is downloaded and hit the Start button.
19. You will have the option to install customization settings, so skip it cause you need a normal bootable drive.
20. Click OK and then again to continue.
21. Once you finish the process, you can boot Windows 10 and install it on your computer.

Check Corrupted Files

File corruption can also become the causing factor behind this error. So, to resolve the issue, you can use the SFC tool. This built-in tool may be an effective problem solver as it diagnoses the system for threats or malware.

Then, it scans the infected files and replaces them with their backup versions from the winsxs protected folder, which stores the copies.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open CMD Prompt with administrative rights.

   

2. In the prompt, type sfc/scannow to launch the SFC scan.

   

3. Once the scan is complete, restart your system, and you can proceed successfully without the error.

Run CHKDSK

You can resolve the issue by running the CHKDSK command.

Here’s how to run it:

1. To open the search bar, hit the keyboard shortcut Windows key+S.
2. Access Command Prompt as an Administrator.
3. Copy and paste the command: CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]] and Enter to execute.
4. Select Y to run CHKDSK.

Your PC will reboot after this, and it will resolve the error.