How to transfer itunes library from XP PC to Windows 10 laptop

I'm looking for some help if there is anyone who is able to explain technical wizardry to someone who hasn't a clue what he's doing!

I have an old PC with Windows XP and run my iTunes from there, with all my media files on an external hard drive. The iTunes is version 12.0.1.26. I have the 'Keep iTunes Media folder organised' box ticked, as well as the 'Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library' box. I have bought a laptop with Windows 10 and want to start running iTunes from this new laptop, whilst keeping the files on the EHD and keeping all my playlists, etc. I have all the music files backed up on a separate EHD.

I Installed the latest version of iTunes on the laptop and managed to get it to recognise my library, but all the playlists, play counts, much of the artwork and, most importanly, the ticks at the side of the tracks (I have around 55,000 tracks on there, so I have to untick quite a lot as they won't fit on my iPod) disappeared. I don't fancy going through 55,000 tracks again, so could anyone please let me know the best way to make the iTunes on the laptop look like what I currently have.

I have removed the new version of iTunes from the laptop and tried to open the older version from my EHD, but it won't let me and gives me error message iTunes error 7 Windows error 126. I am guessing that I don't have all the files needed to open iTunes on my EHD and some remain in my old PC's C drive, but I am not sure what needs moving across, if it is possible to have all the programme files on the EHD and open the older version of iTunes on my laptop this way. I have taken my EHD and plugged it back into the old PC and it continues to work fine from there.

I have to say that it's all become a bit of a mess over the years, as I have tried to move everything iTunes related, including the programme files, to my EHD, so it would be safe to assume I don't know where all the bits and pieces needed to run iTunes currently are on my old PC and EHD and some stuff seems to be duplicated, with similar looking folders in both places, probably as a result of not deleting older versions when upgrading like I should have done. I can, however, confirm that my library is all in one folder on the EHD.

I am unable to upgrade to the latest version of iTunes on the old PC, as it doesn't appear to be compatible with XP, and I was unable to download the old version of iTunes on the new laptop (something to do with a difference between 32 bit and 64 bit, but I didn't have a clue what that meant!).

Ultimately, what I want to be able to do is plug my EHD into the new laptop and be able to open iTunes, see everything as it currently is on my old PC.

Sorry for sounding like a bit of a novice when it comes to computers, but if anyone could help I would be very grateful, as I am scared of doing something which messes everything up!