[Ian Norman]

You can activate your installation 3 times, after that you have to call Microsoft as you did.

I love calling Microsoft after I reinstall. They always ask have "I changed computers or had the computer repaired" or the most ridiculous, "Why have you installed the software so many times"

I politely tell them that if windows didn't stuff itself so often or they made system restore work properly I would'nt have to call them.

There is usually silence at the end of the phone and the nice Indian man, yes it's always been an Indian man each time I call, gives me a new number.
I thank him and tell him I'll call again in a month or so when I have to reinstall the dam software again.

I of course keep a Ghosted copy of the install that I use quite often but sometimes I just love calling Microsoft.

I think everyone should call them rather than using a Ghosted copy, they might just change the activation system. A very sad situation indeed.