Missing original files after attempting to move all files to external drive

After reading numerous threads regarding iTunes not being able to locate the original file after moving it to an external drive, I'm in a slightly different boat since most seem to be able to "locate" their original music. It appears the order in which this is done is particularly important and I suspect this is where I screwed up. I posted this earlier in response to another thread mistakenly under iTunes for Windows, but now I'm realizing where I may have made my main mistake.
Over a year ago, I had moved my iTunes folder from my Music folder from the HD to my 250 GB external drive. I did not rename it. Kept it the same name. Went into the Advanced folder in iTunes Preferences and chose to use the external drive as my source for music and everything worked fine. Don't remember consolidating and it appears based on the way that I did it, I may not have had to.
Recently I found a folder in my Music folder on the Mac's HD titled iTunes and assumed this was holding the original files and that my iTunes wasn't actually running from my external drive at all, but that it had been using the HD on the Mac the whole time (didn't realize that it kept a copy there). So, I took that file and moved it to the external drive. Not sure if I "replaced" it or "deleted" the old one on the external drive (it was late and it was a few days ago). Now I'm realizing that I probably took out my true original files as now all that is there is about 16 music files under "iTunes Music". I tried consolidating and this didn't make any difference since it just consolidated all of the same files. If I open iTunes and hold the option key down that doesn't make any difference either since it still can't find the originals.
Now that I realize what I've done, thinking back I should have been more surprised that it was only 1.3GB of music when really my library is closer to 40 GB. I've just lost a lot of music. Is there anyway to retrieve the rest of the original library or am I cooked?
Many thanks for any help.

turingtest2 post 01/2014: MSVCR80.dll missing, cannot install iTunes - https://discussions.apple.com/message/24618776
iTunes for Windows: Missing MSVCR80.dll - https://sites.google.com/site/appleclubfhs/support/advice-and-articles/itunes-wi ndows-missing-msvcr80-dll - install as administrator.

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