how to reinstall Mac apps from external hard drive onto Macbook

Ilife and Iworks should be installed using the dvd for both. If you installed Iworks, you should have that dvd. I would ask the people at the apple store to install Ilife for you as it was on the Macbook when you bought it. As far as other personal stuff like your Itunes or Iphoto library you can use the import function. And import it from your external drive. In your utilities folder is an app called migration assistant tha you can use to import files an such from the external drive to your Macbook.

There are basically two types of apps:

- one category requires to run an installer, e.g. iLife or iWork, they cannot be moved from one place to another; there are apps which, even having an installer, they practically may be moved from one place to another without any problem;

- apps which may be stored as such and moved to and external drive and back, and even may run from anywhere; most of Mac OS apps are like this.

If you want to backup your apps once purchased on CDs or DVDs, you may simply create images of them (dmg), and install them as if you had the CD or DVD. To have a backup of your apps is OK, and even recommended. This is how I store all my apps now, practically the optical drive is something I use extremely rarely.

If you purchased iWork via App Store, you may simpluy re-download them any time, by selecting apps and pressing Option / Alt key when selecting them, this will force a new download.

once all your problems are solved, you should also turn on Time Machine.

You can then restore applications too, just like any files. I've used Time Machine in the past even to restore an old version of an application, because the newest one didn't work.

Go to google and type in (easy ipod transfer or irip). Down load and install the one you like best.. They are free apps. that will transfer songs off an Ipod or Iphone to itunes.