Carrying Over Song Ratings and Playlists to New Install of iTunes

Hi All,
Hoping someone can help here. I've had my iTunes music on a NAS drive for a few years, but lately I've found iTunes to be freezing virtually every two seconds when reading my files.
I tried removing all the old iTunes files (.itl and .xml files after backing them up) and then importing the folder with all my music and video files again.
Now iTunes is super quick, but I've lost all my ratings (c9,000 tracks) and all my playlists.
Is there some way to use the XML or .itl files to re-create all the ratings and playlists on top of this fresh import?
Many Thanks
F

OK after 5 hours of beating my mouse I have the answer.
Open Itunes.
Select your entire list and delete it. (If this makes you nervous start with one album. I wouldn't trust me either.) It will ask if you want to send to the recycle or keep the file in your media file. I chose to keep as I didn't want to drag them back out if I was wrong. Interesting that when I tried this again while writing these instructions. It didn't ask me a second time.
Now you that have that deleted your list/library. At the top left Click <FILE > then <ADD FILE TO LIBRARY>
This will bring up a new window.
On the left side of the new window. (my computer anyway) there is a list. Click <MUSIC> then double click the <iTunes folder>. Then Double click <iTunes MUSIC>
Now you are looking at all your artists folders. Select them all. You can click while holding the CTRL button to select all of them. They will self fill in at the bottom above the select folder button. click the <SELECT FOLDER> button.
TA DA ! Now you list/library is being repopulated with your music. Now wasn't that fun?
I even tried it again as I wrote out these instructions. No problems here. Please try this with one album first.
If this works for you please come back and say so. That way people will know it's a good work through. If it does not work for you please say so in CAPS So people will know it may not for them.
This solution was pure trial and error. On a Toshiba Satellite running WINDOWS Vista Home premium. No warranty expressed or implied. Your mileage may vary. If swallowed do not induce vomiting (that's gross).

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I've started another discussion because installing this newest version of iTunes has caused problems like I've never encountered.
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Carrying Over Song Ratings and Playlists to New Install of iTunes

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