external hardrive

Hi
I have a Maxtor Basics 500gb External Hardrive and run windows xp version 2002 service pk 3.

I have put photo's etc onto the hard drive and all works well.I decided to back-up my entire system which took some time, but I thought worth while.
However I thought I would test out the back-up but when I click onto it I get this message

"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action.Create an association in the Folder Options panel"

I have gone into folder options but do not seem to be able to do what I have been asked.
Have I done something wrong when creating the back-up? or am I using the external hardrive incorrectly?
I have been onto the support for Maxtor drives but cannot find the answere

Many thanks in advance :confused

 

What program did you use to make the back up?
What is the file extension of this file your clicking on?

 

Hi
Thanks for reply, I went into the pc's backup program on windows xp, when I click onto the properties of the file (on the external hardrive) it reads
"Windows Backup File 16,860KB"
Does this help?
Thanks :-o

 

Hi Plodr

Thanks for the reply, the link you have added does not contain any info? maybe me!!

My computer is actualy running fine but I wanted to check that I was copying the data correctly to my external hardrive in case I crash.

I can view the content of the external drive by going into my computer and clicking on the drive, the file containing the backup is there but I do not know what program to open the file with when I double click it I am asked "what program do you want to open this file"
Or is there another process I would use if I had lost the data from the pc and wanted to download from my external drive?
Thanks :confused

Am I making sense:-o

 

Hi

Thanks for your reply, I think that I have not copied the backup correctly so I have deleted it and started again.

I think that I am missing a step while backing up, I have checked that the backup utility is on the pc, I start off the wizard but cannot get the files required copied to the external hard drive, do I need another program to do this ?