How do I transfer data from external hard drive to new computer

We had been using a PC with XP that had four different users and ITune libraries.   It was attacked by viruses that got deep in op system and could not be fixed.   We purchased a new PC with Windows 8.   I had transfered the itune files by copying them from the hard drive to a external hard drive.    Is there a way to transfer the files from the external hard drive to the iTunes that I just downloaded onto the new computer.   I thought that it would be as easy as copying the files from the external hard drive to the iTunes file on the new computer but this did not work.   If I go into iTunes and select copy file from library it will import the file just file but I really don't want to copy thousands of files one by one.   However, when I try to open those files I get an error message.    We have two iPads and four iPod Touches.   Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I found a posted answer from someone else who asked the same question and it worked.   It said to copy the entire file that was saved on the external hard drive to the my music folder before ever opening ITunes that was newly installed and it worked.

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    ===========
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