I can't select Options in Time Machine

Time Machine no longer works for me. Apparently the volume of stuff it wants to back up is too large for the partition devoted to it (on an external hard drive). But I can't choose the exclude anything because the Options button in Time Machine Prefs is greyed out. I've deleted the TimeMachine .plist file, and restarted, but no go. And I haven't found anything to help either here or on the larger web -- surely this can't be *that* uncommon a problem!?!
Any suggestions? Thanks,
Chris Jones

I've come across the exact same problem where I can't get time machine to backup.  It's telling me I don't have enough space.  I tried to make changes to the backups, but the options and select disk options aren't actual buttones now, just text.  Even the on and off button is missing I only see text.
I don't understand what the MCX settings did to fix it?
Any thoughts?  Has anybody come across this issue?

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