restoring external usb drive itunes library to new mac OS Ventura

So frustrated.

I need a step-by-step instruction sheet for this I guess.

I've been in the mac world forever, so my old library of ripped CDs etc. has resided in a folder called "itunes," first on the internal system drive, then migrated to external drive, forever. Later I bought a 2nd external so as to backup. No, I never used Time Machine....I always used carbon copy cloner.

I've had a new Mini for a year and it did fine with my music library in the old folder called itunes on the external usb drive.

Then recently my primary external itunes drive died. I replaced it and have now done a restore [using carbon copy cloner].

First thing I did was set the file path to point to the correct folder in the Mac Mini's Music app preferences. However, EVERY track I try to play pops up with a window saying Music can't find it and do I want it to be located? I remember this happening in the old itunes days too. I'd find one track once, then bammo itunes could find every track. But not so now. A box like that does pop up, but even tho I answer yes, what seems to be happening is that the Music app is creating a MUSIC FOLDER WITHIN MY ITUNES FOLDER, and placing every track there that I find. This is *not what I want. It's also not the way it was prior to the demise of my primary usb drive.

How the heck do I get back to Kansas??

As I say, there's gotta be a step by step sequence to guide regular (older) user types like me thru this. All I want is to have my music where it used to be, have the Mac Mini Music app able to find it, and place any/all new purchased items from the itunes music store in that folder.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

T.M.