FIX Media Creation Tool 0x80042405 – 0xA001B, 0x80070002 – 0xA001B, etc. (Solved)
If you are facing the errors 0x8004255A – 0xA001B, 0x80070002-0xA001B or 0x80042405 – 0xA001A or 0x80042405-0xA001B in Windows Media Creation Tool (MCT), continue reading below to learn how to fix the problem.
Problem Details: When trying to create a Windows 10/11 USB installation media using the Media Creation Tool, the process fails with error "There was a problem running this tool. We're not sure what happened, but we're unable to run this tool on your PC. If you continue experiencing problems, reference the error code when contacting customer support", with one of the following error codes:
- 0x80070002 – 0xA001B
- 0x8007007B – 0xA001B
- 0x80042405 – 0xA001A
- 0x80042405 – 0xA001B
- 0x8004255A – 0xA001B
How to Fix Media Creation Tool errors 0x80042405 – 0xA001A, 0x80042405-0xA001B 0x8004255A-0xA001B, 0x80070002-0xA001B in Windows 10/11.
Since the reported errors in Media Creation Tool (MCT) can occur for a number of reasons, this guide contains several solutions to fix the problem, starting with the most common ones.
Method 1. Connect the USB disk to USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.x
The first and easiest method to resolve the reported errors in MCT, is to connect the USB drive to a USB 2.0 port instead of a USB 3.2 or USB 3.1 port. Then, try again to create the Windows USB Installation Media using MCT.
Method 2. Format USB to FAT32 using Disk Management.
The 2nd method to fix mentioned Media Creation Tool errors, is to delete all the partitions on the USB disk and then to format it to FAT32.
1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the 'Run' command command box.
2. Type the below command to open disk management:
- diskmgmt.msc
3. In Disk Management utility, right-click on the USB disk and select Delete Volume. Then click Yes to remove the volume.
4. Now, right-click again on the Unallocated space on the USB disk and select New Simple Volume.
5. Click Next at the first screens of the "New Simple Volume Wizard" and at the Format Partition options, choose File system: FAT32 , then check the option Perform a quick format and click Next.
6. When the format is completed choose Finish and proceed again to create the Windows USB Install disk using MCT.
Method 3. Clean & Format the USB disk using DISKPART.
1. Type cmd in Search and then open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. In command prompt, give the following commands in order:
- diskpart
- list disk
3. Now based on the size in GB of the USB find it's Disk Number* (e.g "1" in this example), and give the below command to select it:
- select disk 1
* Note: In the above command replace the disk number if needed according your case.
4. Give the below command to erase all volumes and partitions on the the USB:
- clean
5. Then, type this command to create a partition:
- create partition primary
6. Finally format the created partition to FAT32, using this command:
- format fs=fat32 quick
7. When done, type exit to close DISKPART tool and then close the command prompt window.
8. Try again to create the Windows Install disk using the Media Creation Tool (MCT).
Method 4. Run Media Creation Tool as Administrator.
Some users have reported that the reported errors in Media Creation Tool disappeared after running the MCT utility as an administrator. To do that:
1. Follow the instructions in Method-2 or in Method-3 above to clean and format the USB disk to FAT32/FAT.
2. Then, right-click on the MediaCreationTool.exe file and select Run as administrator. Then click Yes on the UAC prompt and follow the rest onscreen instructions to create the USB.
Method 5. Create the Windows Install USB using RUFUS.
RUFUS USB Creator Utility is a great alternative to easily create a Windows USB installation disc, especially if you've had problems using Microsoft's media creation tool.
Step 1. Download Windows in a ISO file.
1. Run the Media Creation Tool and at "Choose which media to use" options, select ISO File and click Next.
2. Then select where to store the Windows.ISO file and click Save.
3. Wait for MCT to download Windows to an ISO file and when the download is complete click Finish and continue to next step.
Step 2. Create Windows USB Install Disk with Rufus.
1. Download and run the RUFUS USB creator tool.
2a. In Rufus options, click SELECT.
2b. Select the Windows.ISO file you downloaded in previous step and click Open.
3. Then click Start.
4. Finally, read carefully the warning message and if you agree click OK.
5. When the USB creation process is completed click CLOSE.
That's it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I encounter Media Creation Tool errors like 0x8004255A - 0xA001B?
Start by connecting the USB drive to a USB 2.0 port instead of USB 3.2 or 3.1. If the issue persists, follow additional methods like formatting the USB to FAT32 using Disk Management or cleaning it with DISKPART.
How can I format a USB drive to FAT32 using Disk Management?
Open the Run command box by pressing Windows + R, type 'diskmgmt.msc', and hit Enter. Right-click on the USB disk in Disk Management and select Delete Volume. Then, right-click on the unallocated space and choose New Simple Volume, selecting FAT32 as the file system.
Why should I consider using DISKPART to clean and format a USB disk?
Using DISKPART allows you to precisely clean and format the USB disk at a low level, which can help resolve persistent errors when creating Windows installation media. This method ensures all previous partitions and volumes are completely removed.
Is there an alternative to the Media Creation Tool for creating Windows USB installation media?
Yes, RUFUS is a reliable alternative for creating a Windows USB installation disc if you encounter issues with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool. Simply download the necessary Windows ISO file and use RUFUS to create the USB.
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