W10 not booting - arcsas.sys

[MirEso]

Hello everyone,
my desktop PC cannot boot Windows10, when I turned off automatic repair I got message saying 'arcsas.sys' missing (or corrupted, not sure, it's been a time).
So I came here seeking for help, what could possibly help me? Should I try reinstalling windows? Will it work with USB installation illegally downloaded from internet? (since it's been years I last saw installation CD)
Thanks in advance!

[Salmon Trout]

To address an arcsas.sys error you could try changing the SATA settings in bios to PATA/IDE compatability mode. (Do you have a RAID setup?)

Do you have a valid Windows 10 product key? You can legally download a Windows ISO from Microsoft and install it, but it won't be activated until you supply a valid product key.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

Using a "pirate" Windows ISO is a great way to have malware on your system before you even start using it. Only use a genuine ISO from Microsoft. Don't use one from any other site, and DEFINITELY don't use one you got from filesharing / Torrent sources.

[MirEso]

My windows is legally on my PC (bought) but I no longer have such number, or at least I don't know where i could find it (if it's easily available within writing some command in command prompt I'm sorry but I'm not that skillful)
I've chosen 'Troubleshoot' and went one by one:

• System Restore - no restore point
• Go back to previous version - We ran into a problem and won't be able blah blah...
• System Image Recovery - no SIR on this computer (I even have USB stick with usb installation on it to start recovert-doesn't work)
• Startup Repair - image inserted LogFile: SrtTrail.txt error: https://imgur.com/e8j7Lzm
• Command prompt - THE ONLY THING WORKING

arcsas.sys: https://imgur.com/71SVY8A
EDIT: from what I remember and know, my PC is running 64 and the Logfile from first picture (SrtTrail.txt) is located in system32, couldn't this be an issue? Again sorry for my poor knowledge of OS

[Salmon Trout]

Command prompt - THE ONLY THING WORKING

Code: [Select]

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Code: [Select]

C:\>wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
OA3xOriginalProductKey
8xxxx-Jxxxx-Cxxxx-Hxxxx-Yxxxx(I redacted my product key!)

All Windows, 64 or 32 bit, have a System32 folder.

[MirEso]

I tried that command but firstly i had to select which account should start command prompt. I've chosen mine that should be admin account, it's connected to my outlook account and protected by password. Strange is in command prompt i got X:\windows/system32> and I had no media named X (maybe it's some special directory on hdd for my account ? don't know)

• I've typed in command 'wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey'

Outcome was error DESCRIPTION NOT FOUND metioned here: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ie/en-US/b4425a1a-2c15-478b-9c1d-4c59dd7955fc/error-description-not-found?forum=w7itprogeneral
So I tried that powershell way mentioned in link : https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/617124/use-command-prompt-or-powershell-to-find-windows-product-key/
POWERSHELL OUTCOME: https://imgur.com/gallery/ukWMHGB

• To you previous post, I've checked SATA options in  BIOS but so far i found only this (top of the screen: IDE) https://imgur.com/gallery/x3ysEgD

From what I've read, this doesn't work for w10 when it's been upgraded from w7 for free. I originally had w7 but when free upgrade came in, I upgraded to w10
Thank you very much for your time, I truly appreciate it! Thanks

[Term_ite]

MirEso, your right. If you upgraded to Windows 10 during the free period, you don't have a product key, though you do have a digital license that you can access by signing into your Microsoft Account on a new computer.
EDIT:
When you did the free upgrade, you did not get a new 5x5 key for Windows 10, but your PC was assigned a digital license. If you need to reinstall Windows 10, simply start the install and you have an option to skip entering a key if you are reinstalling. Your PC will automatically activate after setup completes and you connect to the Internet; assuming your motherboard has not been swapped.

[2x3i5x]

Just to note: you can always download windows 10 straight from the official microsoft site here if you ever need or want a new copy:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

[Salmon Trout]

Just to note: you can always download windows 10 straight from the official microsoft site here if you ever need or want a new copy:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

I already told him that.

[patio]

If you upgraded to Windows 10 during the free period, you don't have a product key,

This is false...

[Term_ite]

Edit to original post: MirEso, your right. If you upgraded to Windows 10 (for free)during the free period, you don't have a product key, though you do have a digital license that you can access by signing into your Microsoft Account on a new computer.
EDIT:
When you did the free upgrade, you did not get a new 5x5 key for Windows 10, but your PC was assigned a digital license. If you need to reinstall Windows 10, simply start the install and you have an option to skip entering a key if you are reinstalling. Your PC will automatically activate after setup completes and you connect to the Internet; assuming your motherboard has not been swapped.

[EndOfForever]

Edit to original post: MirEso, your right. If you upgraded to Windows 10 (for free)during the free period, you don't have a product key, though you do have a digital license that you can access by signing into your Microsoft Account on a new computer.
EDIT:
When you did the free upgrade, you did not get a new 5x5 key for Windows 10, but your PC was assigned a digital license. If you need to reinstall Windows 10, simply start the install and you have an option to skip entering a key if you are reinstalling. Your PC will automatically activate after setup completes and you connect to the Internet; assuming your motherboard has not been swapped.

How does microsoft associate a windows 10 license to a motherboard? Does windows put a flag in the NVRAM?

[patio]

No...it writes to the BIOS...
I guess you could call it what you did technically...

[Salmon Trout]

No writes to BIOS or NVRAM, I think. When first installed Windows generates a hardware signature - CPU, HDD,, mobile chipset all have unique serial numbers, that signature is sent to the. MS activation server and associated with the product key.