Lost my iTunes library... can I get it back?

Question

My old computer was a Dell Inspiron 1520. I had my iPod Touch G2 (purchased new, in December 08) synched with my iTunes library on that computer (which consisted of something like 2000 songs).
In April of this year, my Inspiron crashed... I saved all of my files on to an external hard drive. I reinstalled the operating system (Windows Vista) and all the programs on to the Inspiron, so it was like I was starting from new. I plugged the external hard drive into the Inspiron. I had no problem finding all my text and picture files, however, my iTunes library seemed to be... gone.
I recently got a Dell Latitude E6500 (I'm using it for the first time today). I still have all 2000 or so songs on my iPod, but I'd like to listen to my music on my computer, too (I have some of it backed up on CDs, but not all of it!). Is there any way to get my iTunes library back? I'm worried that if I just plug my iPod in to my computer, I'll lose all the songs on my iPod (since won't the iPod sync with the iTunes library on my computer?- which is, as of now, empty). What will happen if I plug my iPod into my Latitude? Will I lose all of my songs?
If there is a way to get my iTunes library back (as in, get it from my iPod to my Latitude) I would GREATLY appreciate it if someone could tell me what to do! The songs that are on CDs, I could easily rip on to the computer... but is there a way to get those songs that were purchased on iTunes (and never burned to a CD) on to my computer (the Dell Latitude)? Please help!

Answer 1

You can move all your purchased iTunes tracks to a new computer easily. Here is the extract from iTunes Help.
*Moving your iTunes Store purchases to another computer*
+If you have an iPod or iPhone with iTunes Store purchases on it, you can use it to move your purchases to other authorized computers. You might want to do this if you regularly use more than one computer (at home and at work or school, for example) to buy items from the iTunes Store, and you want all your purchases in both iTunes libraries.+
+To move store purchases from your iPod or iPhone:+
+Make sure the iPod or iPhone has the purchased items you want to transfer.+
+Make sure the destination computer (the one you want to transfer items to) is authorized to play iTunes Store purchases (choose Store > Authorize Computer and then click Authorize).+
+Do one of the following:+
+If the iPod or iPhone is synced with another computer, or is an iPod shuffle: Click Transfer Purchases in the dialog that appears.+
+If the iPod or iPhone is set up to manually manage items: Wait for the device to appear in the iTunes window (below Devices), and then choose File > Transfer Purchases From iPod (or iPhone).+
+Unless the song is an iTunes Plus version, you can play an iTunes Store purchase on up to five authorized computers.+
Good luck. That should at least get your purchased tracks onto your new computer. I think unless you have saved your iTunes library on disc then you will have lost all your playlists and non iTunes tracks. (But I'm no expert and stand to be corrected )