Windows media creation tool error 0x80004005 - 0xa001a

Question

Hi, Since the Fall update I have had nothing but problems with a bootable USB drive. Windows media creation tool returns an error 0x80004005 - 0xa001a, which the internet seems oblivious too and the windows 7 USB/DVD download tool creates a drive which is none bootable. 

I spoke to microsoft who advised me to download the windows 10 ISO and use the windows 7 USB/DVD download tool to create the media but it failed to boot.

I searched online for solutions as to why windows 7 USB/DVD download tool would not create a bootable USB drive from a windows 7 ISO and I was given directions to use Diskpart. This also failed.

So does anyone have any solutions to fix the 0x80004005 - 0xa001a error with the media creation tool.

I also tried both windows 7 and windows 10 USB Drive in 2 systems and neither would boot the windows install program.

Thanks Baz

Answer 1

Thanks but unfortunately this did not work.

I have however managed to get windows 10 to boot on a USB drive.

I did a low level format and used diskpart and the powershell to set up the USB drive and copy the files to it from the ISO.

Answer 2

For people still looking for a solution to this problem, it is because the media creation tool cannot create a bootable USB disk from a GPT partition.

The easiest way to fix this:

• launch cmd
• type "diskpart" (a new window might open, use that one from now on)
• type "list disk"
• select the USB disk you want to use with "select disk n" with n being the disk number
• type "clean" to wipe out all contents on the disk
• type "convert mbr"

One last step is to create and partition the disk so that Windows is able to see it so launch the disk management tool from Windows and assign a letter/format the disk you just converted to mbr (NTFS works just fine)

You're done. Media creation tool should work properly now.

Answer 3

Hi,

I have tried 3 different usb drive to create a bootable drive, always fails at 50% showing the below error.

Answer 4

This is the solution, but the original poster gave a practically useless level of detail (which seems to be the general problem with answers.microsoft.com). 

Use Rufus to first format the drive to NTFS and uncheck the option to write an ISO or anything else to the drive. Rufus generally wants to write something, but if you uncheck this option it just creates an almost blank bootable drive after formatting it.

Then, use the media creation tool from MS. It will now magically succeed and even boot :).

I hope this helps, I would include screenshots, but I'm already past that point. I'll follow this thread so post if you have any questions.

Good Luck,

Keith

Answer 5

While I'm sure this works, the issue I'd caution you about is if you make *any* mistakes whatsoever setting up the USB drive then the media creation tool throws the aforementioned error message then immediately zaps your download and you have to do it over again.  That sucks... especially if you have a slower Internet connection.  I had to retry three times before I gave up and downloaded the ISO image.  Lots of time wasted.

When you download the ISO, you keep the download.  You have to take the extra steps of properly setting up the USB drive, but it's more forgiving if you mess something up.

Just my two cents.