How to fix the Media Creation Tool error 0x80072f8f - 0x20000

If you're encountering the 0x80072f8f - 0x20000 error, I'm here to share some quick fixes for it. Let's get started:

英文原文： The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 中文翻译： The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

How to fix Error Code 0x80072f8f - 0x20000 on Windows?

Windows makes it easy to upgrade or reset your OS with its Media Creation Tool. The tool is straightforward and usually doesn't cause any issues. However, some users reported the Media Creation Tool error 0x80072f8f – 0x20000.

There are several ways to fix the Windows Update Media Creation Tool error code 0x80072f8f - 0x20000. For example, you could try modifying registry settings or deleting the Software Distribution folder. However, this article will discuss eight methods in detail.

For more help, you can also check out this video:

• 00:45 Unlock the Media Creation Tool
• 01:16 Delete the Software Distribution folder
• 02:25 Enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2

1. Verify that your computer meets the compatibility requirements for the Windows upgrade.

Before you upgrade to Windows 11, make sure your PC meets the requirements. You can download and run the PC Health Check app for details. To get started, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the PC Health Check app first.

Step 2: Double-click the installer to begin the installation, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 3: After installation, run the PC Health Check app and click the “Check Now” button. It will then list any yellow-flagged requirements that your PC doesn't meet.

Check PC Health for Upgrade

Step 4: Finally, verify that you meet these requirements, resolve any issues, and then run the Windows Media Installer again.

Ensure that you are in a stable network environment.

Make sure that you're connected to the internet as well, since the Media Creation Tool won't be able to download the necessary updates if your network isn't working, which will cause Windows 10 upgrade errors.

Please check if your network connection is working properly. If not, try restarting your router or addressing the network issues.

3. Run the Microsoft Media Creation Tool as an administrator

If you haven't already, try running the Microsoft Create Tool as an administrator. It's likely that it lacks the proper permissions to complete the operation, and that's why you're seeing the error.

Right-click the Media Creation Tool and select Run as administrator, then try running it to see if it works.

4. Modify the Windows registry

You can also modify the Windows Registry to bypass the error, but make sure to create a backup of your registry settings before you do. That way, you can quickly restore them if something goes wrong.

When you're ready, proceed as follows:

Step 1. Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" window.

Step 2: Type regedit, and then press Enter.

Step 3: Navigate to the following path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

4. Right-click in the empty area, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AllowOSUpgrade.

Step 5: Double-click AllowOSUpgrade and change the “Value data” to 1.

Step 6: Close the Registry Editor.

Step 7. Restart your computer and run the Media Creation Tool to see if the issue is resolved.

5. Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11/10

Next, you can try performing a clean boot on Windows 10 or 11. A clean boot is when Windows starts with the minimum set of drivers and startup programs. This is similar to starting Windows in Safe Mode, but you have more control over which services and programs run at startup.

To get started, do the following:

Step 1: Go to the Windows search.

Step 2. Type msconfig and launch the System Configuration.

Step 3: Click on the Services tab, and then check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services.

Step 4: Click the “Disable All” button.

Step 5. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.

Step 6: Then, right-click each one individually and select “Disable.”

Step 7. When you're done, close Task Manager and return to the System Configuration window.

Step 8: Choose Apply > OK to save your changes.

Step 9. Restart your computer.

After performing a clean boot, try running the Media Creation Tool again to see if you still get the Windows Update error code 0x80072f8f - 0x20000. If the issue is no longer present, consider uninstalling recently installed apps and run the Media Creation Tool as usual.

Enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2 to fix error code 0x80072f8f - 0x20000

One of the main reasons for the error code 0x80072f8f - 0x20000 with the Windows Update Media Creation Tool is that your TLS is disabled. If this is the case, follow these steps:

Step 1: First, back up the Windows Registry.

Step 2: Next, open Notepad and paste the following code:

Step 3. Save the file with the .reg extension.

Step 4: When it's done, double-click the file to apply the settings in the registry.

Step 5: Restart your PC, and try the Media Creation Tool again to see if it works.

7. Remove the contents of the software distribution folder

The Software Distribution folder stores temporary files that might be used for installing Windows updates. However, sometimes Windows fails to access the update files, which can lead to various errors. Therefore, it's recommended to clean the Software Distribution folder for a smoother Windows update installation. Here's how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run window.

Step 2. Type the following path, and then press Enter: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Step 3. Now press CTRL+A to select all the files, right-click on the selected files, and click “Delete.”

Step 4. When done, press Windows + X to open the Quick Access menu, and select “Windows Terminal (Admin).”

Step 5. In the Windows command prompt, type the following command: wuauclt.exe /updatenow

Step 6: Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

8. Reset Windows 11/10 to Fix Media Creation Tool Error

If all else fails, resetting Windows might be your only option. Resetting your PC ensures that there aren't any damaged files or recently installed apps interfering with the Media Creation Tool. Before you reset your PC, back up important files to prevent data loss.

When ready, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.

Step 2: Go to Windows Update > Advanced options > Recovery.

Step 3: Click on “Reset your PC.”

Step 4: Tap “Delete All,” then follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: If your computer does not boot properly, you can also perform a factory reset from the BIOS.

Data Recovery after Fixing Error Code 0x80072f8f - 0x20000

If the issue persists after trying these steps, or if your device becomes unresponsive, resetting your computer might be the only solution.

A factory reset will delete all apps, games, and personal files like photos, music, or movies from your computer. This overwrites some of the data, damaging the file system that held your lost files in place. However, this doesn't mean that you can't recover the files you want after a factory reset. In this case, you can use a data recovery solution like tools Data Recovery Wizard to restore your data.

Data Recovery Wizard is a professional data recovery tool that has helped millions of users successfully and efficiently retrieve lost data with ease. Here are all the steps involved:

Note: To ensure a higher success rate of data recovery, install the data recovery tool on a disk other than the source disk.

Step 1. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard tool on your Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 computer. Select the disk partition or storage location where you lost data and click "Scan".

Step 2: The recovery software will scan the disk to find all lost and deleted files. Once the scanning process is finished, click on “Filter” > “By Type” to specify the type of lost file.

Step 3. Preview and recover lost Windows files. You can double-click to preview the scanned files. Then, select the target data and hit the “ Recover ” button to save them to another secure location on your computer or an external storage device.

Abstract

The above are quick solutions to fix the 0x80072f8f-0x20000 error in Media Creation Tool. If none of these work for you, a Windows reset might be necessary. Data loss can be a serious issue in such cases, but you can always use tools like Data Recovery Wizard to quickly restore your files.

Q&A: Troubleshooting Error Code 0x80072F8F - 0x20000

Now, let's look at some common problems with media creation tools.

How do I fix issues with Windows 10 updates not working properly?

You can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter to fix issues with Windows Update not working. Alternatively, you can use the Media Creation Tool to download and install the latest version of Windows.

How to fix Windows Error Code 0x80072F8F 0x20000?

There are several ways to fix error code 0x80072F8F 0x20000. You can try running the Media Creation Tool as an administrator, deleting the Software Distribution folder, modifying registry settings, and more.

Why can't I run the Media Creation Tool on Windows 7?

You can download the Media Creation Tool again and run it with administrator privileges. Since the tool is compatible with Windows 7, it should run without issues.

4. How to recover lost data after fixing Media Creation Tool errors?

You can quickly and easily recover lost data with data recovery applications like Data Recovery Wizard, as it is capable of retrieving data from formatted drives.