Old AOL account won't activate songs on new computer

[Cozimoto]

I originally had an Apple ID with an AOL screen name that I used on the Apple web site even before iTunes. When iTunes came out and I signed up it automatically detected that and that became my iTunes account. I purchased 300+ songs under that AOL account name. When I cancelled that AOL account I made a new one in iTunes, I can't remember the exact details as it's been a year or so.

So now I have a new Win XP PC and I can activate the songs I've purchased under a new (second) account with no problem. When I try to activate the songs purchased under the AOL account name I get a message that it's no longer valid and I have to make a new account. When I go to sign up it detects me and says you already have an account, just sign in (silly me), but does not activate the old songs. When I try to make yet a third account in an attempt to get these 300+ songs activated I get an "Invalid Session" error in red.

I'm trying to work with their email system which is slow and not too effective. I support DRM but if you have an email change or a credit card number change it looks like you could lose your purchases. Right now I'm regreting spending $300 for something I can't hold in my hand like a CD. Buyer beware.

Any suggestions would be appreciated .......... Cozimoto

[honeybee1236]

You will have to contact iTunes customer service about it. Didn't you burn the songs to a disk? If you did just reimport them onto the computer. If you didn't why not? That's something you should do anytime you purchase something via downloading.

[Cozimoto]

Well I'm still in the process of dealing with the "service/engineering department", I think it's day seven. They don't have an answer yet .......

I have everything backed up in the original AAC iTunes DRM format, why would I burn it to CD and then re-rip it to iTunes? That would be a noticable quality loss (time loss too at 300+ songs). No one should have to accept inferior quality when they're within the mutually agreed DRM requirement of activated devices.

Thanks though - Coz

[Leibstandarte]

iTunes is just 128kbps AAC though...