Vista says it is deactivated

I changed the network card and the DVD drive. The network card is the same brand and the DVD burner is the same brand and model. The only other thing I did was temporarily connect additional hard disks so I could copy files from them in the normal operation of my work backing up files before I work on a system.

I've never had this happen with XP. Does Vista use a tighter scheme? If so, this is going to be a major problem for me as I do these kinds of things almost daily.

 

All I can think of is you must have an OEM version of vista, because you changed hardware it has deactivated, ring Microsoft for a new key. They will ask for you cd key that came with your OEM vista disk.

 

No, it is the retail, off-the-shelf version.

Here's the clincher. After I posted here, I put back in the DVD drive and the network card that was in the machine when I loaded Windows to begin with. I started Windows and checked Computer properties and it now says Windows is activated.

This is just too restrictive. This is going to be a real problem. So much so, I think it is a violation of my license agreement. I mean if I can't even change a network card and DVD burner without tipping the cart, it can make things for a tinkerer/troubleshooter, impossible.