After adding new hardware, validation resets?

[Snuggans]

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'....

 

[Dustin Harper]

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?

 

[Snuggans]

yes, i went from ASUS to Gigabyte..

 

[Dustin Harper]

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.

 

[Snuggans]

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

 

[Dustin Harper]

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