The VAIO came with a Windows Certificate of Authenticity, including the license key, so I figured I'd just boot off the retail disc I had lying around, and use that license key. How naive.
Let me stress this point: The retail boxed version of Windows WOULD NOT ACCEPT the license key from the CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY that was INCLUDED IN THE BOX WITH MY PC. The recovery discs are the only way to get the OS back onto the PC without burning an unnecessary second Windows license.
