Itunes duplicates solved.

Question

Ok so I think i've found a way to remove all duplicates leaving the original file in itunes.
Normally when you have an exact duplicate file with the exact name, it should be overwritten.
In itunes case, the duplicate file is written with a number at the end of the name.
For example.   original..  song.mp3   duplicate.. song2.mp3 
If you have duplicates with the same exact name, then this probably won't help.
Open itunes, > view > press+hold alt key > show exact duplicates.
Highlight all and move to trash.
Create new folder on desktop.
Open trash and copy all songs to new folder
Open new desktop folder with songs from trash,
Type in the search bar on top right,  2.mp3 
Select only the selcted folder to search in, and not the entire computer
Select all songs found, and move to trash. 
Repeat step if you have a triplecate song but this time type,  3.mp3
Once all duplicate songs have been deleted, close and reopen folder,
Highlight all songs, and open  in itunes.
Then click view>show duplicates.
If any are there, delete them manually. (should be none)
Done.
PS. Don't forget to click "show all items" at the bottom of itunes to see your songs.

Answer 1

All of my iTunes music is in the same directory (though it may have been in separate directories -- can't recall whether I moved it -- would have been a long time ago).  That directory is:
Free-standing hard drive\iTunes
That iTunes directory is filled with both individual tracks and folders containing tracks. 
When I am using iTunes, the amount of music shown at the bottom of the screen is much less than the size of the iTunes directory.  If I look through the iTunes directory, I can see many duplications.  I'm reluctant to delete any duplication b/c I don't know whether that will delete the one that iTunes uses to play the music.
Your advice is not to fool with the iTunes directory, so I will stay away from that.
Thanks!  Jonathan C. McCall