I want to retain my itunes 'date added' information when transferring to my new macbook pro

Question

Hello There
I think even before I ask this, that I know what the answer will be, so please don't laugh at me, just sympathise..
I have a lot of music. A lot. So much I need to use the date added to keep it all organised and know where I am. Previously I used a computer from work for everything, but just got a shiny new macbook pro - woo hoo!
First thing I did was transfer my itunes library. I use a HD so pretty easy, simply hold down the option key whilst starting itunes, select the library on my HD and wallop, off we go. After a few minutes of chugging all my music is there and my playlists. Fantastic I thought, but then hold on - date added says today. This can't be right I say to myself, some of these files were added in 2008...
Being slightly paranoid about doing this I created a copy of my old itunes library - better safe than sorry. I open the old back up of itune library (an xml file) and sure enough, all the correct dates are there. I open up the new one and it says everything was imported today. Weird. So I try reimporting -doesn't work, overwriting the new xml file with the old info, saving and opening itunes again - no sir. Nothing works. It appears that whilst I can interact with the xml file, itunes uses another file (itunes document) which checks consistency, and won't allow the xml file info to overwrite, simply rehashes to the dates it thinks are right.
Done a fair bit of research and I think the answer is there is not an answer. Being the wise old owl that apple is, it has decided that users will not want this information if they ever move or buy new computers, so while it will keep your playlists, it won't have this bit of info. My only option has been to create spreadsheets of old list for reference.
I'm hoping out there someone will tell me that apple have realised this is rubbish and have fixed, or will say fret no longer, here is the magic workaround, but I haven't found anyone who can yet. Does anyone have the answer?
Until then, I will continue to perform this awkward workaround and stick pins into the apple voodoo doll.
Cheers
Mr Sherlock

Answer 1

weird very weird. today i did this again today after already being unsuccessful earlier. exactly the same thing as i have done before, exactly. didn't try to import. didn't say damaged library, copied everything in including date. have tried it about 10 times no luck. today it just worked.
how weird is that?
oh well JG - maybe you mixed a magic potion for me?
anyway, thank you for all the help.
to anyone else reading this all i can say is keep trying, you never know. follow the above advice. you may feel exasperated and think you have done it already, but keep trying.
cheers
P