Need Some Help

I am running the VBulletin 2.2.7 Copyright of 2000. I have not upgraded and did not know therE were a few updates per year or a yealry licensing fee for upgrades...

All of a sudden I have a few problems at http://thefishingline.org/bbs/index.php?

1. out of the blue those who confirm and activate their account with the link in their e mail...many of them, not all of them...but most of them are instantly being moved over to coppa (users awaiting moderation) whatever this means. Is there something I can adjust or change in default to correct this?

2. A few months back whenever we use a comma, it turns to an asterisk upon submitting your post. Whether you type and copy paste from word doc or type directly into the text box when participating in a thread, upon submitting your reply...all commas are turned into asterisks...

I was never really informed by my server company that every year I had to licesnce renew to upgrade the system and I do need to upgrade without losing all my posts and threads...is it possible to share some of the upgrades through a series of smaller steps to get me to 2007?? my e mail is rich@thefishingline.com

I need help Please!!

THANKS!!!!!
Rich