There's been issues with time codes being seen as invalid so maybe this is an issue with CD keys also?
. I do know that you can reclaim an old username and pw, but I can't remember if it still asks for the CD code at that point or not.
Really though it's better to do the EA Land download now that the merges are eminent. It will bypass a MASSIVE amount of patching you will have to do with those beta disks (I have them too and the last time I reloaded from them I think the update was like 320 MB or something) and it will also give you the EA Land icons. Did I read though that creation in the production cities has been suspended, or was it just moves from production city to production city that were suspended? I've got a pounding headache so I can't remember which. Check the FAQ at the top of this page, surely the EA Land download site is there. If it's not I'm sure one of our wonderful mods that probably have all those links hot keyed into a program like Keytext for easy access can give it to us