Vista - After adding new hardware, validation resets?

After getting Windows Vista and successfully validating my OEM bought Vista
Home Premium, I added a second hard-drive and replaced a faulty motherboard.
Now it has apparently reseted the validation, it tells me not only that I
need to active Windows (again) but the key that I have is 'already in use'
(by me, obviously, but i dont understand?)

I called the Windows toll-free phone activation, and even after selecting
English, they put me with an Argentinian-sounding fellow which I could barely
understand and received a very helpful suggestion to 're-enter another
key'....

I'd call back and get someone else to help you.

Also, the OEM is usually made to work with the same motherboard. Did you
replace the board with a similar model, or a completely different one?

--
Dustin Harper
dharper@xxxxxx
http://www.vistarip.com


"Snuggans" <Snuggans@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:BA913122-3A67-45BD-81B6-A75296596FD5@xxxxxx

yes, i went from ASUS to Gigabyte..

If it was bought from Newegg or a vendor, rather than coming from a
pre-build system (Dell, Gateway, etc.), you can reactivate with no problem.
Of course, you can with a Dell or Gateway, too, it can just violate the EULA
for the OEM version. But, if you build the system yourself, you are the OEM.


--
Dustin Harper
dharper@xxxxxx
http://www.vistarip.com


"Snuggans" <Snuggans@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7010FAA0-2FD1-4BC9-B24D-A4AC1094D939@xxxxxx

how would i go about reactivating? the phone thing? ugh..

Yea, the phone, since it won't do it automatically over the internet.

--
Dustin Harper
dharper@xxxxxx
http://www.vistarip.com


"Snuggans" <Snuggans@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:A42AFABB-865C-4968-867D-961EDCE907DA@xxxxxx