Unable To Complete Backup - Error 0x80070002?

When attempting to backup a system image and/or selected libraries or files on an OEM installation of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, I am receiving an error message. The initial pop-up states: The Last Backup Did Not Complete Successfully When I click on the pop-up to check the backup and select �More Details,� I see the following message. The System cannot find the file specified Error Code: 0x80070002 No additional information is provided. (And no clue is provided regarding what �file� is not found.) While I am attempting to backup to an external hard drive connected via eSATA, this error also occurs when I attempt a backup to either an external USB drive or a DVD.

I have attempted to run various backup scenarios wherein [a] Windows selects what to backup, [b] I choose a system image only, [c] I choose libraries only, or [d] I choose a very small data directory in a directory outside of the libraries. The error is always the same. When the system image is included, the backup does run for a time before the error message occurs � and a significant amount of data is written to the drive. When I run a file-only backup, the error is almost instantaneous. So far, in attempting to resolve the problem I have taken the following steps (although not necessarily in this order): Confirmed the registry profiles image paths are accordance with the information found at: The Storage Team at Microsoft - File Cabinet Blog : Common causes and solutions to Backup, System Restore, and Complete PC Backup problems - updated!. Everything was correct, no problems found. Ran the system file checker (sfc /scannow) with no errors reported. Scanned all hard drives (chkdsk x: /r) Confirmed that VSS and Windows Backup Services are running via services.msc Although I didn�t think it applied, I tested the Hotfix suggested at: You encounter problems when you move data over USB from a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer that has an NVIDIA USB EHCI chipset and at least 4GB of RAM. No success. Reviewed the information at Error code 0x80070002 when you back up files in Windows 7 however the scenarios did not apply and therefore the solutions were not available to me. Checked the error logs at C:WindowsLogsWindowsBackup, but the error log is empty . Ran a Clean Boot via msconfig.exe Attempted to run Backup in Safe Mode, but of course Backup & Restore cannot be run in safe mode, even if I try to start the services manually (Error 1084). Reset Backup Files Configuration, using instructions at: Backup User and System Files - Reset to Default Configuration I am extraordinarily frustrated. This is a new computer, and an almost new installation of Windows. I have obviously missed something, but don�t know what it is. I am desperate for a solution.