Add file to library after hard drive restore

Had to restore an old (January) image backup yesterday. About a month ago the music files were moved to an external drive from the C: drive so they are intact as they were before the restore. iTunes database (itl/xml file) don't include the hundreds of songs that have been added since January. (Yes, you are preaching to the choir.) I realize that I will need to go into preferences - advanced and change the music folder location to the external drive & that ought to see most of the songs. Question is the restored iTunes doesn't know about all the new files and am not sure the best way to add back to iTunes. I think that I want to use the "add file to library" option. If I select this and go to the external drive music folder will it only add files that aren't in the iTunes database already, will I end up with thousands of duplicate entries? How will it handle songs purchased since January? Advice please? Thanks.

I went ahead and and changed the music file location, consolidated the library. That went ok. Tried a test adding an artist's folder from the external drive that I know had a new album in it but just a few other albums. Ended up with duplicate entries for the previously existing albums. Bah! I think I have 3 choices here: 1) add all the new stuff to the itunes library manually (but remember there have been hundreds of changes since January..the music files are > 80 gb total. 2) add to library selecting the main folder (which appears that it will then add thousands of duplicate items to the database list in addition to the hundreds of new items). 3) forget about trying to preserve ratings/playcounts etc and wipe the database and rebuild it from the external drive.
Is there a way to rebuild the database and preserve the existing ratings/playcounts?

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DaneelGiskard wrote:
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Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
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SharePod Windows Only
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YamiPod Mac and Windows
Music Rescue Mac & Windows
Floola Mac & Windows
iGadget Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iRepo Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Access Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
TouchCopy Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible - Windows version only)
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I'm sure I'm not the only one who's encountered this situation, but i couldn't find a decent answer anywhere. My HDD crashed, but i recovered all my documents, together with all iTunes documented files (including songs). I didn't lose any data. The problem is that iTunes can't just read copy pasted files (to avoid the spread of bought iTunes songs/apps). How can i get all those songs back in there?
1) I've still got everything on my iPod, but my iPod won't even be recognised with the name i've given it. Synchronising my iPod is out of the question...
2) I've got screenshots of files i found in the back-up document files
http://s720.photobucket.com/albums/ww201/Ollii/Computer%20Info%20Screens/
3) I can upload every song back again, but that takes ages. And I would like to have my apps back too
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tt2

Add file to library after hard drive restore

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