Forum Discussion
What to do if Windows 11 media creation tool not working？
I have also encountered similar problems, especially the error code 0x80072f8f - 0x20000, which is really a headache. I tried many times at the time, using administrator privileges, changing networks, and even changing different USBs, but it always didn't work. In the end, I gave up using the tools that come with Windows and switched to WonderISO.
I used WonderISO to create a Windows 11 installation USB drive myself, and it was done in one go. The interface is simple and refreshing, and there is not much operation required. And it is not picky about USB drives, basically any USB drive can be successfully recognized.
I followed this guide (works for me)
https://www.digitstrend.com/create-bootable-usb-windows-11
It is really a good alternative. Give it a try, it may save a lot of trouble!
I suspect you may be trying to use the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool USB with an external 2TB hard disk rather than a standard USB flash drive. Note that the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool is primarily designed to make a bootable USB flash drive for installing Windows 11 on your computer. this tool does not support installing Windows 11 directly on an external hard drive. if the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool doesn't work and you want to make your 2TB hard drive bootable and install Windows 11 while preserving other data, you can do this: right-click on "this" hard drive to install Windows 11 while preserving other data.
If the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool not working and you want to make your 2TB hard disk bootable and install Windows 11 while preserving other data, you can do it like this: Right-click on "This computer" and select "Manage" to open "Computer Management". Then, go to Disk Management and try to extend the partition to utilize all the unallocated disk space. In this way, your hard disk will be able to install Windows 11 as well as store other data.
Why do you say: Note that the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool is primarily designed to make a bootable USB flash drive for installing Windows 11 on your computer ?
I tried the Windows Media Creation Tool.
It converted my 128 GB USB flash drive to a USELESS 31.9 GB drive. After using up a lot of space for inbuilt files, it reduced to far less capacity. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE MICROSOFT WEBSITE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
Microsoft claimed "Installation media, such as a USB flash drive, can be used to install a new copy of Windows, perform a clean installation of Windows, or reinstall Windows." https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d
The Media Creation Tool didn't have the sense to leave a FULL 32 GB or more free.
COMPLAINT TO MICROSOFT:
(1) Why didn't the Tool leave my USB flash drive at over at least 100 GB?