Why isn't my restored iTunes library showing ANY of my music?

I've recently built a new computer, and after installing iTunes and choosing my existing library (which has ALWAYS been on my external HD, not simply copied over), absolutely NOTHING is showing up.
My iTunes library, including all of the iTunes created folders are all on my external HD, along with all of the media files themselves (in their own folders), which is where they have always been. If I plug this HD back into my old computer I can boot up iTunes, no problem, and all of my stuff is there.
I've dug around support forums and followed everything I've found. I've set the path of the iTunes media folder in the advanced options to point to the same folder as the old computer, and triple checked to make sure the drive letter and everything is the same. I've started iTunes while holding 'shift', and selected the iTunes library file in that folder. I've even tried choosing the "previous iTunes library" files, to no avail. iTunes simply shows the music screen you would get with a fresh install and no library.
How do I fix this? My library contained thousands upon thousands of songs, and was immaculately organized, correcting hundreds of tagging errors in the original files themselves (which mostly predated my iPod or iTunes, spanning back fifteen years or so, before I knew much about file organization). I have no desire to redo the entire thing from scratch.
Any and all help is appreciated.

It would seem your media folder is on the external drive, but your library database remains on the original computer. See make a split library portable.
tt2

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More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.
06/2014 ChrisCA post: Restore iTunes library from Time Machine backup - https://discussions.apple.com/message/26104480#26104480

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Why isn't my restored iTunes library showing ANY of my music?

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