Re-using my copy of windows

My computer took a dump. My motherboard is fried as well as my harddrive. I'm curious will i be able to use the same copy of windows to get it validated? I'm not too computer savvy, still noob here so please dumb it down in lamen terms if you can . If there is a way please let me know because i want to get the updates from windows still. Thank you for your time.

morb

 

ya the cd key is still on my tower? Is that all i need? Also how do i call them over the phone to activate it?

 

Awesome thank you. Was trying to get my ducks in a row, my parts come wednesday and i wanna try to bang the computer together same day.

 

Microsoft allows "X" number of "fresh" installations from the same disk, OEM disks are allowed 3 installation before the key is cut off for validation use. I'm not sure about retail copies, or mass installation copies.

 

No. Microsoft allows unlimited installs from the same CD, on the same machine, with the same key. However, if you activate online, you will be limited to so many in a 120 day period. After 120 days, the databse is purged. Microsoft can be called during that time to activate.

SLP OEM activations are different, as they activate by the SLP code in the BIOS. So changing a motherboard could be quite troublesome in those cases.