While implementing the solution described in the previous post, I managed to start the restore procedure using a boot media that was not the one I used to install –it was a Volume License media–

I realized and aborted before actually running the restore.

But to my surprise, after I rebooted a message appeared on the right bottom corner of the screen reading “Windows Vista TM, Compilation 6000, This copy of Windows is not original”.

I tried to validate through the web, it validated, but the message was still there, shouting “you’re a pirate! I’m telling the BSA!”.

Then I thought that what had messed all up, may in fact arrange it back.

So I just had to reproduce the same steps but with the boot media I used to install. And voilà! the message dissappeared.