Trouble with time machine Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5

help me please, im going nuts.
I have successfully manually backed up my macbook pro several times to a G-drive 750.  Usually once every 2-4 weeks.
Now when I plug in the G-drive nothing happens (previously, a time machine user page would open, say something like do you want to use this G-drive as back up, and i proceed to a manual backup.  BUT NOW when i plug in the Gdrive nothing happens, so I open time machine and I want it to give me the page to selcet Gdrive and back up now, BUT when I open time machine (Gdrive still plugged in), it goes into time machine  shows me new screen with desktop and multi layers of desktop behind it with options at bottom buttons to Cancel, Today (now), Restore.  Im almost certain this page is for retrieving old back ups as the right margin has dates of prior backups.
How do I get Time machine to recognize G-drive and allow me to backup (Ive done this before, many times,) but now I cant find the proper window/page that gives me options to selct Grdive and backup?
Thanls for helping
Danny

Mac Basics: Time Machine

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