ITunes keeps requiring authorization

Question

I use 3 machines:
- Powerbook G4
- Powermac G5
- iMac G5 (recently underwent apple certified repair)
Currently, I physically have 2 machines authorized that will play my music. 3 machines should be authorized.. but the iTunes music store says 4 are authorized.
So.. here's the overall deal..
Yes, I probably lost 1 authorization as a result of the repair facility doing an archive and install (without notifying me), but iTunes has still been asking for authorization in strange ways.
For instance, the iMac G5 is asking for authorization again.. it has not been reinstalled since that time.
My Powermac at home has also pulled up the authorization dialogue without apparent reason (it has never been reinstalled).
So here I sit with 2 computers authorized.. 1 that needs to be authorized, and 4 that apple thinks are authorized.
If I authorize the computer I'm sitting on right now, I could semi-permanently lose my ability to listen to music on a machine if another one starts asking for authorization.. and I don't have the option to reset my authorizations.
So.. what am I to do? I'm seriously considering stopping using the iTMS because of this issue.. I've spent well over $300 on music there.. but if glitches like this are going to force me to stop listening to my own purchased music.. then I don't want to invest any more money into it.

Answer 1

let me explain.
I bought the song and put it in an iphoto slideshow and made a Quicktime version too.
One computer.
Iphoto won't play the song because it requires authorization from itunes.
I authorize it (again, and again) at itunes. It says I am authorized just fine.
Back to iphoto: Same error message. over and over.
Then add:
even Quicktime wouldn't let me play the already recorded slideshow movie. It said I could only use itunes tunes in isoftware?
Now Quicktime has become hijacked-- demolished, actually--- and replaced by nothing but menus saying purchase the new Quicktime. Who did this?
In another forum someone said 'all' I have to do is buy the newest versions of Quicktime and iTunes. That's all.
Money-grubbing robbers. How dare they come onto my computer and mess things up so I have to buy new software? I can't afford it. So now what?
Natasha