Apple ID with Expired Email address and no password

Question

I recently purchased a new macbook pro. For the past few years i have been using a me.com Apple ID. But prior to that, like 15 years ago, I had an account with eartlink.net as the email address in the ID. I no longer have an account with earthlink.  When I went to sync my new computer with my iPad, I was asked for the password to this account in order to authorize the computer to play music under this ID.  It has been so long ago that now I no longer remember the password. I tried to get it sent to me, but of course, they want to email to the defunct email address.  The other way is security questions, but of course, I did not think it was any of their business what my birthday was 15 years ago, so I entered a fake birthdate.  SO.... now there is no way for me to access this account and authorize the computer.
I will withhold any comments about multiple Apple IDS and not being able to change or merge them, but certainly in this day of software genius, they should have thought of a better way to deal with this.
Anyone have any ideas of how I can get in to the account to authorize it?
Thanks
Charlie

Answer 1

As I understand it you have an "orphaned" Apple ID that has not been used in years, whose email address no longer exists or is otherwise inaccessible, and you don't remember your fake birthday. Is that correct?
Anyone have any ideas of how I can get in to the account to authorize it?
If you ever bought anything from the Apple Online Store using that Apple ID... maybe.
Go there: Apple Online Store
Click this:
One of the options that appears next will enable you to check the status of an order, even one that was placed ten years ago. Fifteen, I'm not so sure, but I know their order status history encompasses more than ten years. You will need to find an option that does not require that Apple ID and password combination.
Once you reach the order status page you will see that "orphaned" Apple ID and the email address that no longer viable - they are separate, even though they may be identical.
Opposite Account Information there will be a blue Edit button, which you can use to edit the email address associated with that Apple ID.
Don't attempt to change the Apple ID there, but change the email address associated with it to a viable email address.
You will then be able to use that email address for the reset instructions that will be sent upon requesting to have that Apple ID password reset, using the instructions here:
Apple ID: Changing your password