@sdcougar

If I understand your question, another alternative
is to click on the PCManFM icon on the task bar
or select file manager from Main menu/preferences.

The left panel of PCManFM, the file manager, shows
most, if not all mounted or mountable media.
Those not mounted mount with a single click.

NTSF volumes show up as 'OS'. Careful mounting these,
since writes to NTSF are hazardous.

If your 'external backup' is a usb device, I would expect
it to show up. You might have to plug & unplug to get
it recognized.