Article ID: kb00327Last Modified: 17-Aug-2025

Troubleshooting 'Parameter is Incorrect' Errors in Backup Plans

When a Windows backup job fails with the message Parameter is incorrect, it usually points to a mismatch between the selected backup mode and certain file system or volume conditions. This article outlines common scenarios, root causes, and solutions to help you restore normal backup operations quickly.

This error may appear in the following scenarios:

Scenario 1: Legacy File-Level Backup + Long Windows Paths

Situation

Backup job fails with error: Parameter is incorrect

Source path is a local NTFS volume or UNC share
One or more items in the backup source exceed 260 characters (MAX_PATH limit)
A backup plan failed with the following error message: The plan terminates abnormally.

Cause

Legacy backup format uses standard Win32 APIs, which do not support paths longer than 260 characters.

Solutions

Option	Action	Notes
Migrate to the new backup format	Upgrade your backup plan to the new backup format	Fully supports long paths; no file exclusions needed
Shorten the paths	Rename folders or files to keep the full path under 260 characters	Requires user coordination; may not scale well
Exclude long-path items	Edit the backup plan, exclude files and folders	Excluded data will not be backed up

Scenario 2: Legacy File-Level Backup to exFAT with Invalid Timestamps

Situation

Backup job fails with error: Parameter is incorrect

Destination is an exFAT volume (e.g., USB drive or SD card)
Backup fails for files with timestamps earlier than 1980 or later than 2107

Cause

exFAT uses DOS date format, which only supports dates between 1980 and 2107.

Solutions

Option	Action	Notes
Migrate to the new backup format	Upgrade your backup plan to the new backup format	Fully supports long paths; no file exclusions needed
Use NTFS instead	Re-format the target drive as NTFS and update the plan destination	Removes timestamp restrictions
Exclude long-path items	Edit the backup plan, exclude files and folders	Excluded data will not be backed up
Correct timestamps	Use PowerShell or third-party tools to adjust file creation/modification dates	May require scripting or file-by-file edits

Scenario 3: Image-Based Backup with VSS on Small System Volumes

Situation

Backup job fails with error: Parameter is incorrect

Plan type: Image-Based Backup
VSS snapshot fails for small partitions (e.g., EFI, System Reserved, Recovery)

Cause

These partitions often have less than 1 MB of free space, which is insufficient for VSS metadata operations.

Solutions

Option	Action	Notes
Disable VSS for special partitions only	Edit the backup plan, on Select Partitions clear Use VSS for small partitions	Retains VSS for the main OS volume
Disable VSS	Edit the backup plan, on Advanced Options clear Use VSS	Only recommended if above fails

Scenario 4: System-State Backup Fails

Situation

Backup job fails with error: Parameter is incorrect

Plan type: System-State Backup Plan

Cause

The legacy WBAdmin API often causes compatibility issues, especially in newer OS builds.

Solution

Use Image-Based Backup instead. It captures the entire OS volume, including:

Registry
Bootloader
System files This approach avoids reliance on outdated APIs.

Scenario 5: Physical Disk or File-System Corruption

Situation

Backup job fails with error: Parameter is incorrect

Error occurs on the same file, folder, or sector consistently
Event Logs or SMART tools report I/O issues or bad blocks

Solutions

Surface scan and repair
- Use a tool like Victoria 5.37 to detect and repair physical sector issues (test and repair).
Check file system:

Copy
Edit
chkdsk /f /r <drive-letter>:

This command will:

Fix file-system errors
Attempt recovery of readable data from bad sectors.

If the problem persists, open the support ticket with attached screenshot of the error and log files.