ITunes cannot locates music files

I recently purchased a new Asus with Windows 8 and successfully (or so I thought) transferred music from my i phone 4. The computer is authorised. My phone recently became full as I have a lot of music, so I unticked some music and attempted to re-sync. All the files in ITunes then got an '!' symbol by them which means it could not locate files and removed everything from my phone.
After wasting many hours, I have managed to download all the applications and some music that I have purchased via ITunes - although most STILL has the ! by them and the store says I have downloaded them and won't let me do it again.
I have also changed the preferences to locate files from various copies I have made on external drives still with no success.
Strangely, when I have the I phone plugged in to the computer and as I'm syncing, it shows all of the audio files on the blue bar but just as it finishes syncing it reverts back to about 6 GB with the items in para 2 above.
Any ideas on how I get I Tunes to find the files??? I have loads of music loaded from CDs over the years and really don't want to spend the rest of my life reloading them.
Thanks in advance for any ideas. oh, I've also updated both ITunes and my phone to current software versions.
Debbie

Hello 2305deb,
We have an article to help find your missing media. Named iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads it can be found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1408.
Resolution
Follow the steps below to locate your missing iTunes media.
Resume any interrupted downloads
Choose Store > Check for Available Downloads from the iTunes menu. Click Resume if any downloads are listed as unfinished. For more information see How to resume interrupted iTunes Store downloads.
Check your iTunes media folder
For Mac OS X
For Windows 7 and Windows Vista
For Windows XP
Check your Trash/Recycle Bin
Check the Trash (Mac) or the Recycle Bin (Windows). If you're able to find any of your missing items, you can re-add them back to your iTunes library.
Mac OS X: Control + click (or right-click) on the item and choose Put Back.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista: Right-click on the item and choose Restore.
Windows XP: Right-click on the item and choose Restore.
If after restoring the item from the trash your media doesn't reappear in your iTunes library. You will need to locate the restored file in your iTunes Media folder and drag the item into your iTunes library window.
There are different instructions depending on the version of windows you have.
It is possible that you may need to re create the iTunes library and IF that is the case then here is an article to assist with that
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
Take care,
Sterling

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