Old Account Converts

This may not be the same thing, but here goes.  I played mxo when it first came out and had to quit because of a computer problem after about three months into it.  This past xmas I got a computer that would run it, so I dusted off my original install disks and installed the game.  Had to sign up for an soe account because that wasn't around before I quit.  So then it asks me for either the cd key or other serial number so I can actually play the game.  I look on my cd case and type in the cd key.  It rejects it.  I try it again, slowly, and it rejects it again.  So the cd key with the game I bought in 2005 was no longer being accepted.  I probably could have spent a few days with tech support and they would have given me a valid key, but I was so hyped up on the possibility of playing mxo again, I went and bought the 19.99 version and just used the serial that was sent to me through email so I could play.  Anyway, when I got around to creating my character, I thought I would try to use the same handle as before, "Taekman", which was very unique.  It said it was already taken. I'm pretty sure they don't save your character information, but maybe they keep the name in the system?