Backup from XP - Windows 7 - not all albums can be added

Question

Hi guys,
First time poster, so go easy on me.
It was my birthday last week, and ended up getting an Ipad bought for me. For the last 3 years i have used I tunes on my old xp tower, but its very old, very slow, and while it is ok for adding the odd track to my ipod, it doesnt really get used very often.
So with the new ipad, i decided to finally take the plunge and transfer the libary from the xp tower, to my windows 7 laptop. Iv done this before when reformatting my PC and it worked fine, it kept all my songs, all the play counts, all the ratings, so thought it shouldnt be too much of a problem.
Backed up the whole "my music" folder onto my external hard drive, transfered the itunes folder with libary and the tbl file ( cant remember correct extention sorry).Loaded up I tunes on my laptop, loaded the libary etc, and the bulk of the music was in itunes (albiet with a billion duplicates).
Started making myself at home, deleting duplicates, re arranging play lists etc, and noticed that album x, y and z ( to name but a few), were missing. I couldnt find them in my itunes folder, so presumed my old Itunes was grabbing them direct from my music. Anyway, located the folders in my music (the folder is anally easy to navigate). Transfered the albums to my laptop. In itunes, selected add folder, found the album, hit ok, and..... nothing. It just wouldnt add the folders. Makes you question how many other albums havnt been added that Im unaware of.
Initially i thought maybe it was a compatability issue, or the files were the wrong file type, but they all seem to be mp3. Interestingly, i know the files are ok, because they are still on my PC's itunes, and more importantly on my ipod.
so, short story, how can i add this mystery files, how can i retrieve the playcount (considering importing the two libary files didnt work) and finally, where is the nearest donut van, because after this post i think i deserve a break.
Cheers in advance, all the best
Kris

Answer 1

Haha, I would like to see a donut van right about now, too!
+how can i retrieve the playcount (considering importing the two libary files didnt work)+
That is stored in the itunes database file, which is named iTunes Library.itl
If you copied your entire music file to the exHD and then moved that to windows 7 it should have gotten moved over.
Something must have gone wrong with that, if your play counts & music isn't showing up.
+In itunes, selected add folder, found the album, hit ok, and..... nothing.+
MP3 files not adding or playing in itunes usually means corrupt mp3 headers. Run one of those files through MP3 validator to start; if that's hte issue, run more of them through after you're sure how it works.
Here is a good web page on that
http://trevinchow.com/blog/2008/09/17/fix-for-mp3-songs-not-playing-in-itunes/
Some of your files may have become corrupted through the years with all the moving around esp if your PC isn't on a surge protector strip.