Outlook 2007 Back-up/Restore Verification

[Saidas]

I have Vista Home 32 w/ Outlook 2007. I want to back up Outlook on an
external HD to reinstall after a reformat and fresh installation of Windows
7. I have followed the instructions provided here but I need to be absolutely
sure I've done it right because I have critical data in Outlook than I cannot
lose.

I've located Outlook from this process and copied it to the backup drive:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

When I open any of the files in this folder, I get this message, "This file
does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create
an association in the Set Associations control panel."

Please clarify what this indicates and then exactly how I restore back on
the reformatted HD.

Thanks!!!

 

[neo]

The error message means that you can't double click on a PST file and expect
it to open in Outlook. To open, you would start Outlook and then select
File > Open > Outlook data file.