Windows Backup no longer works. Trying to change settings results in "The parameter is incorrect. (0x80080057)"

Question

I tried to backup my computer and it didn't make any progress for many hours. After a few hours I gave up and closed the backup panel. I restarted the computer and now the panel comes blank with the external backup drive plugged in.  If I double click
the backup folder on the external drive and click restore I keep getting the error dialogue, "The parameter is incorrect. (0x80080057)".
If I don't plug in the drive it and click Options > Change backup settings I get the same error dialogue. Note, the backup control panel displays and says the drive is not plugged in and shows the last time I attempted to backup. It says that backup was
complete but some files were skipped. The error code is 0x8100002F.
I tried to solve the problem using: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982736/en-us It did not help.
I have looked into some of the logs and found this:
Description
Windows Backup failure
Problem signature
Problem Event Name: WindowsBackupFailure
Operation: Backup
AppVer: 6.1.7601
HRESULT: 0x81000015
TargetType: 11
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
Locale ID: 1033
Files that help describe the problem
WindowsBackup.1.etl
This is the second to last time I backed up. 
Someone else had this problem: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f299/solved-windows-7-backup-0x80070057-error-546542.html
They had a restore image and could go back to an earlier time. I do not have this option.
What can I do?

Answer 1

Hi,
I doubt this was External harddrive problem. Please check Event log about VSS error log. If there is any error message with VSS.
If so, please refer to the link below for more details about VSS error.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee692290(v=ws.10).aspx
In addition, please also try to backup your system to other location for test if it had same problem. If not, it should be external drive problem.
Roger Lu
TechNet Community Support