Question about removing/reinstalling iTunes

I recently bought an external HD because iTunes was swamping my c drive. In migrating my iTunes folders/libraries over today, I obviously corrupted some files or screwed up, because I get error msgs galore and cannot open iTunes from either the new ext drive (H) or the C drive. It asks me if I want to repair or remove iTunes, but when I hit repair, it tells me files are missing and to reinstall.
MY QUESTION: if I remove all existing iTunes apps and reinstall, will I lose my entire iTunes music library? I just downloaded the latest vs of iTunes today, before all this foolishness occurred.
HELP
Video iPod   Windows XP  

Leave iTunes (the program) on your C: drive.
Then put the actual music files on the external drive.
I have never had an iTunes upgrade delete my music files, but of course it is always safest to have a backup.
If you have rated lots of those songs, you might want to search for the iTunes library files and save them.
What are the iTunes library files?

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