Vista - Activation after new hard disk

Hi, Yesterday my harddisk crashed comlpetely and I had to install a new one.
Windows Vista is installed again and it says: automatic activation will start
in 3 days and than I see my windows key. Do I have to take action here? Will
the new harddisk cause problems? If I choose 'activate now', I get some
screens that do not really make sense, since I have a key already. Can
someone please clarify if I have to take any action here? I am located in the
Netherlands, so if I do have to call microsoft, where can I found the correct
number to call.
Thanks in advance for your help here!
Kind regards,
Cilia

Hi there, there should be an option activate by phone or something? Choose your country and should give you the number to call. Just explain the situation and they will void your previous activation and will give you a telephone activation code to validate. Thanks

Hi Cilia,

When you install a retail copy of Windows Vista, Windows Vista normally
waits three
days before automatically activating the product. It is recommended that you
clear the 'Automatically Activate Windows When I’m Online' box when entering
your product key. This option gives you a full 30 days to verify that Windows
Vista works properly on your hardware and that you won’t be required to
replace any hardware or the entire computer. After you’re confident that
Windows Vista is completely compatible with your hardware, you can open the
System dialog box and choose the manual activation option. However, since you
have changed a significant piece of hardware (your hard drive), you will have
to do it over the phone as it is unlikely that you will be able to do so over
the Internet. If the Internet method fails, simply select 'Show me other ways
to activate'. On the next page, select the required phone number from the
drop down list. This number is toll-free, and doesn't cost you anything.
Follow the instructions given and enter the installation ID using your phone
keypad. If the automated system is able to give you an activation key, it
will be read out to you. This consists of the numbers 0-9 and letters A-F.
They will be read out in blocks, and you enter them in the appropriate block
(A-H) at the bottom of the screen using your computer keyboard. If, however,
this also fails then stay on the line and wait for an operator who will be
able to assist you. There should be no problem with this. Explain the
situation and they should be able to give you an activation code. Follow
their instructions. Activation is a technology designed to counteract casual
copying and piracy. However, Microsoft realizes that hardware does fail and
provides an alternative activation method. Be aware, though, that if during a
validation check it is discovered that more than one machine with the same
product key is in use, then all of those machines will fail the validation
test and a new product key will be required for each of them.
Dwarf

"Cilia" wrote: