working from an external hard drive

[michbabe]

Sorry if this is a topic already discussed.. If so just direct me there and I will read all about it.
I was home sick today from my day job (don't quit your day job)
and have spent hours in this community reading all sorts of interesting and helpful things.

However...I haven't found what one item I was looking for..
I was one of the unlucky ones who lost about 253 discs/ about 3,000 so songs...Which I still have not found. I did buy the program recommended to help find these files, but it is beyond my understanding when it starts talking about changing your systems BIO settings "bla bla blaa..." Above and beyond my knowledge. (am a blond but common give me a break)
So this 89 dollar program will wait for help.

Getting back to my point (I do have one) From what I have been understanding, it is best to of course back up all files into a external hard drive. And I imagine to save space on the laptop, after moved to the external I delete them all off the laptop????

If this is correct, when I am ready to run a show, how do I pull the songs off the external hard drive into my hoster???

Maybe I shouldn't of admitted I was blond, cause maybe that's a dumb question.
New with hoster, new with an external hard drive...!!!
Help??? Just don't throw tomatoes.....