Move library from xp to 7 and external drive

Anyone out there who can help me with this? I'm a complete amateur and close to going mad about this... Thanks a bunch!
I acquired a new laptop and would like to get rid of my old desktop computer, thus need to transfer my iTunes library (lots of music from CD's in it, too). While I'm at it, I considered it wise to transfer the library to an external drive in order to save space on my laptop's hard drive. My old desktop computer had Windows XP for an operating system, my new laptop runs Windows 7.
I have now all my music files on that external drive connected to the laptop and accordingly changed the location of the library in the advanced tab of the iTunes preferences. Recently acquired files (were not included in the "old" library I want to transfer) that display perfectly well in iTunes (on the new laptop computer) are located in the exact same spot on that external drive. However, all the transferred files will not display in iTunes unless I double click on them in the Windows explorer. This, I imagine, tells me that the files at least now are in the right location, still somehow I am not able to make them appear in iTunes. Any useful hints will be highly appreciated. Many thanks in advance!

Format the drive MS-DOS.
Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder from the iMac to the external.
Plug the external into the Windows computer.
Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
Select Choose library.
Select the iTunes folder on the external.
That is all you need to do.

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The following may help: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
Note the following fine print therein:
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I would like to copy my iTunes library from my home iMac to a PC laptop (I know, don't ask, it's a work tool)
- without clogging that work PC with all the music data, so I am thinking external drive.
Here are my questions:
first, how do I need to format that drive? MS-DOS (FAT) or else? (just purchased a LaCie mobile drive)
second, what do I do, back up from within iTunes or just move MyMusic folder over to external drive?
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Select Choose library.
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This page may be of some help: How to move an iTunes library from a PC to Mac (and back)

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Thanks
scott

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Move library from xp to 7 and external drive

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