Q: itunes restore

You are missing the fact that installing OS X on a bare disk only installs the iTunes application. Unless your /Home/Music/ folder has been backed up none of your iTunes Library will be restorable. The process is very simple. It's a puzzle why you are having such a problem.

How to move your iTunes library to a new computer

Back up your iTunes library by copying it to an external drive - Apple Support

Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device- Apple Support Communities

These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.

The following is courtesy of user Turing Test 2.

Method 1

1. Backup the library with this User Tip.
2. Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
3. Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
4. Keep your backup up-to-date in future.

 

Method 2

Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.

 

Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.

 

I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.

 

Note if you have iOS devices and haven't moved your contacts and calendar items across then you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should  merge the existing data from the device.

 

If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable.

 

Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.

Is the external drive connected? You will need to do this if you disconnect the external drive because when re-connected it becomes a different device and the old path you had is gone. This will only work if the external drive is never disconnected.

I'm without an idea. I would prefer using an alias or soft link that points to the entire Music folder on the external drive and use it in place of the Music folder in your Home folder. That's what I have set up. Does not require any changes in iTunes. When iTunes looks for its files in the Music folder it simply follows where the alias points.