[klinzhai]

A) Take them back to the store where you bought them and claim that CDs 3-5 are bad (since they are...). If they claim that you can't, let them know that you are not looking for a return, you simply want an exchange of the bad CDs. If you purchased them less than 3 days old, inform them that the Federal Gov't requires that any non-partially consumed items be returnable for 3 days.

B) Go find someone with the CDs. It's not illegal to install on multiple computers, Sony just claims that it's illegal to copy them.... which is strange that Sony would claim that, since by law you are entitled to make 1 archive copy of every non-DVD media that you own (tape, CD, record, VHS, Laser disc, Betamax, etc....), so no matter what they claim, the Federal Gov't (in the US) states that they can suck eggs unless it's on DVD. So if you find someone who also has a copy of the CDs, then you copy theirs, and they can be considered your legal 'archive' copy of your bad CDs.