[X4U] iTunes authorization

[Mitchell Senft]

Once again having problems with reaching the 5 machine limit for  
authorization with iTunes. (ITunes downloads are limited to playing  
on 5 machines.)

The problem is complicated by the fact that one machine was trashed  
without de-authorizing and the hard drive of the second, also-retired  
machine is unavailable as well.

Per Apple, the simple solution is to de-authorize all. My questions  
are: If I do that, do all the iTunes downloads also get rendered  
unplayable even after I reauthorize the machine to which they've been  
downloaded? And if so, is there any alternative to a mass de- 
authorization?

Thanks,

Mitchell