How to get new iTunes install to recognize library stored on External drive

iTunes was installed on Computer Alpha. Library was kept in external hard drive (External). The library on External was not a backup; it was the primary, one and only library used by iTunes on Alpha. All music purchased from iTunes Store downloaded directly into the library on External. Hard drive on Alpha was too small to contain the library.
Alpha died. Kaput. No chance of opening iTunes on Alpha any more.
New computer acquired, Computer Bravo. Windows 7. iTunes 9.2.1.5 for Windows downloaded/installed on Bravo. Bravo is authorized.
External connected to Bravo via USB. Windows explorer, viewed on Bravo, indicates the Library on External is still in place.
iTunes opened on Bravo. iTunes finds three music files on Bravo hard drive and adds them to the "music" view of iTunes.
I go to Edit/Preferences/Advanced and change the iTunes library location to Extenal/iTunes_library. Save.
Nothing happens. I can't get iTunes to load the "music" list in iTunes with the songs contained in Extenal/iTunes_library file.
iTunes closed. I hold shift key and open iTunes, thereby prompting the "choose library" dialog. In the dialog, I select "choose library" and once again select the External/iTunes_library directory, but when that directory is chosen, all the individual files within the library are displayed, and the dialog is waiting for me to choose one of the hundreds of individual files within the Extenal/iTunes_library file. None of those files is the library; only the entire collection of them together is the library, yet the dialog will not permit me to select External/iTunes_library file in its entirety as the library. I abandon the dialog.
iTunes uninstalled from Bravo. Wondering what to do next.

Chris CA wrote:
You mean the *iTunes media folder* was kept on the external.
Yes, I believe you are correct, and that I used the wrong terminology. By "library," I was referring only to the directory on External where the actual .mp4 music files are stored.
The iTunes library consists of the iTunes folder (default in \Music\iTunes\
and all contents as well as everything in iTunes.
So, in my case above, it seems you are saying that "library" ought to refer to the following:
1. The c\my music\iTunes directory and all its component files on the Alpha hard drive, AND
2. the iTunesmusicfiles directory on External
Is that correct?
If yes, then I am left scratching my head about something:
Before Alpha died, I went to Edit/Preferences/Advanced and, in the window where iTunes asks me to specify the location of my iTunes LIBRARY, I specified External\iTunesmusicfiles.
And it worked. Thus, I am left with the impression that "library" is a term referring only to the directory where the actual .mp4 files are stored. (Thus, iTunes itself provided a very good reason for me to think of the "library" in this limited, incorrect, way).
If I understand you correctly, the reason why that maneuver worked is because of the presence of the library.itl file that was located in Alpha\c\my music\iTunes, and because the .itl file was populated with some kind of data specific to the contents of External\iTunesmusicfiles, and because the contents of the .itl file pre-dated the transfer of the iTunesmusicfiles directory to External. And that every time a subsequent change occurred in External\iTunesmusicfiles such as the addition of a new music file via iTunes purchase/download, a concomitant change occurred in the .itl file on Alpha, thereby keeping the iTunes player on Alpha synced up with the warehouse of music over there on External.
Do I have it right so far?
Now, with Bravo, I am trying to establish the same setup I had on Alpha. And because Alpha is dead, I need to attempt this using a fresh installation of iTunes on Bravo. And a fresh installation of iTunes on Bravo means a virgin .itl file on Bravo.
Again, if I understand you correctly, you're saying that if iTunes on Bravo is going to work just like iTunes on Alpha did, then the .itl file on Bravo must contain the same data that the .itl file on Alpha did.
To accomplish this, I have two options:
1. Obtain a copy of the .itl file from Alpha and transfer it to the same directory location on Bravo
2. Build the .itl file on Bravo manually.
Again, am I getting this right?
If so, I don't think No. 1 above is an option. I'm left with No. 2.
If I have to click individually on all the files in External\iTunesMusicFiles, I guess I can deal with that. Not a huge problem. But what I want to prevent is transferring the .mp4 files to the Bravo hard drive. I want only one copy of each .mp4, and I want each of those .mp4s to reside on External, not on Bravo.
Doable?
Thanks to all who have taken time to respond to my issue. I do appreciate it.
Message was edited by: 2muchcoffeeman

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Message was edited by: stevebr -- small clarification.

I know that in Mac OS X one can pick which library to use by holding down the option key while starting iTunes. What's the Windows equivalent?
Press the Shift key.
WIll the fact that the music is now on another physical drive make a difference
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I know the previous install is at least 7.0, but I have no idea about which point release.
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(28446)

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