ICloud email address "already taken" -- how to reclaim?

hi!
i previously activated iCloud on my iPad 4 several months back.  When it prompted me to create an iCloud email address, I was able to create one.  (Note:  this iCloud email address ends in @icloud.com while my Apple ID--which i used to activate iCloud on my iPad 4--ends with @live.com.)
my iCloud data were not syncing properly on all my iOS devices, so I deleted the iCloud data on all of them.  I never bothered using iCloud with a browser on the desktop.
lately i bought an iPad retina mini. i decided to reactivate iCloud using my Appple ID (the one i used previously that ends with @live.com).  this time, my iCloud data (contacts, calendar, reminders) sync effortlessly.  however, if i try to activate notes and mail (which required me to create an @icloud.com email address) and i input my previous @icloud.com email address, it is rejected and the error "this name is already taken" appears.
i know that this @icloud.com email address is mine and mine alone. it uses a combination of characters that only i could possibly come up with. however, since my first attempt with iCloud syncing wasn't that great, and since i didn't bother with opening iCloud with a browser, i never bothered with the @icloud.com password.  now i can no longer remember it.  i cannot even recall if i entered any in the first place.
i tried having my @icloud.com password reset using the security questions, but it doesn't accept my date of birth.  if i use email authentication (using my @live.com email address), i do not get to receive any messages to authenticate my identity.
i would very much like to reuse the @icloud.com email address i previously created. is there a way to do so? how do i reset the password for the @icloud.com email address?
any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you.

Hi ignudi,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
I know you have already tried to answer the security questions to reset your Apple ID password, the @icloud.com address, and you are not receiving the email authentication. The following attached article has steps resetting your Apple ID password.
If you forgot your Apple ID password
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5787
If you are still having issues reseting the password, it may be necessary to contact Apple Support as the article suggests.
Have a great day,
Joe

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