Can't use iTunes -- for music I have bought and paid for

iTunes says I have five computers authorized but it only shows three. I have already tried deauthorizing and reauthorizing. Did not work. One of my computers continues to be flagged as over five.

I am so frustrated and, of course, I cannot call Apple -- which a friend of mine says is the only way she got this fixed.

I also can't call them about a problem with my hard drive. I would think that supporting computers is an essential business. At least they could maintain phone support.

But that's not what this question is about.

I read that I cannot deauthorize but once per year so I am afraid to do so again as I fear I won't be able to get anything loaded back on. I don't understand why my account shows three devices but they continue to say there are five.

Does anyone here know what to do in this case?

Will be loading off all of my music to CD since, from what I understand, iTunes is dead. Maybe that's why it isn't working.