How do I get photos to show in my collections folders after moving photos to a new location?

Question

After exporting my main folder to a new location along with the .lrcat and .lrdata files, along with my backup files, all of my collections folders show zero images in them.  I need to somehow link these files together to get my collections back.  The pnotos are there, just not showing in the collection folders.

Answer 1

Whats the simplest and most easily mainted method for storing files?  Do folks dump them into one huge file and then sort with Lr collections or do they import into smaller files AND sort with collections. 
I would like to back up the mess I have and use collections but not sure if there is an efficent way to do so.
I believe that sometimes you are using the word "file" to mean "folder"
The simplest and easiest way to manage files is to use the default import mechanism in Lightroom, which is to put them into folders by capture date. This takes zero effort on your part. From that point on, you NEVER move them, how simple is that? (there is one exception which I shall explain in a minute) and then you use Lightroom tools ... keywords and other metadata, to allow you to organize and search.
Backups are accomplished by making a backup of both your catalog file and all of your photos.
The exception to never moving your photos is when you need to move them to a new hard disk or new computer, then of course you should move them.