Activation codes for Command & Conquer the First Decade can't be redeemed

Yep, I just got the same result when I tried an online chat. My support guy told me it was an older product that wasn't issued with a "stand-alone" code. He said only the Collector's Edition would work. I too would like to activate my copy of The First Decade if possible, and I also saw previous posts where that very thing was done for the poster.