I have an external hard drive. I download my zip files into my computer and keep them in Buzz Explore and then I back everything up to the external drive. That way i have them on my computer as well as the external hard drive. yes you can open them up directly from the hard drive as well.

I have an exHD I DL all my designs to it. I unzip them there and store them in files there. I had all my designs on my HD but it took up way too much space on my PC. I back up with discs. Hope this helps.

Am sure I go about this the wrong way! BUT I download to my desktop, unzip the file there, trash the ones I don't need, then move my machine format file to the external drive. I don't know if the unzip program will work on the external drive, but since you can just "drag & drop" the file it's not really much trouble. I DO have a lot of folders set up on the external so I can find things faster...you know, things like "animals" "alphabets" etc. Then I usually have a folder within the main folders...like in animal I have "dog" "cat" "farm" and so on.

I just bought one with 1TB storage. First thing that happened all of my files from "M to "Z" got trashed. That was the reason I got it so I wouldn't loose them. Don't know what happened as as you say there is no information there to tell you what you should do. I hope now every thing is ok as I do not want to loose any more. I could not sleep most of the night last night I was so sick over it. I also thought that it would up date the files as I went along, so far I have not seen it happen. I will have to up date myself until I figure it all out. I don't know if I am not trying to use like it is designed or what.

An external drive works the same as an internal one except you can transport it. It will just show up as a removable device in your drive letters. If you name it, it will be easier to see :-)
Just be sure to put it somewhere steady, it IS a an HD which means knocking it around is not a happy thing!
Hugs!

Bunnylane, I too have a external hard drive and I do like most of the other and especially like misscharlie - one place - now use of space on PC - just download where I want them - one touch - like mail - put it where you want it - use it there - don't use up the space or time to move it around. Hehehe!