New Computer won't recognize my music library

I just had to purchase a new PC when my old one died. Got a new Dell with Vista installed. Fortunately, I had a back up of all my iTunes music on a removable harddrive. I've downloaded and installed iTunes onto my new computer and copied all of my music files into the appropriate music/itunes/itunesmusic folder, but iTunes doesn't recognize the music. I've checked the path and it is correct (since it was the default iTunes set up). I've authorized the computer. I even tried consolidating, but nothing has worked. Based on the Apple info about Vista, I've uninstalled the program and am now downloading and reinstalling it again. Any other suggestions on how I can get iTunes to recognize my old music files? Is it okay for me to have copied the files from the old folder to the new or do I need to do something else? Do they need to be imported? Thanks for your help.
Dell Dimension E520   Other OS   Windows Vista
Dell Dimension E520   Other OS   Windows Vista

Hey MattyTimao!
I would strongly suggest that you go through the steps in the following article to minimize any interactions between the previous owner’s data and the new data you are wishing to store on the computer:
What to do before selling or giving away your Mac
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5189
To answer your question specifically though, I would recommend creating a new library file for your music and deleting the previous iTunes Library to get rid of the previous music:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1589
If you wish to use the iTunes Library file that is already created and being used, you will need to import media into the iTunes Library:
iTunes: About the Add to Library, Import, and Convert functions
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1347
Thanks for coming to the Apple Support Communities!
Regards,
Braden

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