ITunes can't find my files

iTunes was running fine the last time I used it (a few days ago) but today it can't find any of my files.
All my playlists and songs are listed in my library, but when i double-click on them it says something about how "the song can't be used because iTunes can't find the original file."    It then asks if i want to to locate the file, and if i say yes it pops up a browser dialog that points to the correct folder for the file but the file list is empty.  Here's the weird part:  if i visit the file in Windows Explorer, the file is right where it should be.   Riddle me that, Batman.
sometimes, however, if i use "locate the file" i can find the file in the folder and point to it and it works.
But my big questions is this: why has iTunes suddenly lost the location of all my files?  and how can "locate" them all without doing it one by one? i have thousands of songs...
I restarted iTunes, checked the library it was pointing to...nothing.   i can't think of anything else to do.
Windows 7, 64bit, Dell XPS Studio.  iTunes 11.3.1.2
Ideas?

Try my FindTracks script.
tt2

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