EaseUS Todo Backup free won't restore

[Imbrium]

When I first got my computer, I added a SSD and discovered EaseUS Todo Backup (free edition) while looking into how to get my OS onto the SSD. I liked the program - it was easy to use and it worked like a charm - so I decided to hang onto it for back-up purposes.

After all of maybe a month with a new computer, Windows 8 is already kicking my butt... and I'm really not appreciating the smiley-face icon they've added to the blue screen of death to make it more personal, lol. I would just do a fresh reinstall of Windows but I'm not sure if the comp came with an actual windows CD and if it did, I have no idea where it would've ended up... so the obvious first step here seemed to be to restore the SSD to a point before I started having issues.

I opened todo backup, found the backup image I wanted to use and clicked "recovery"... but when I started the recovery process, I got the message, "This version doesn't support this feature, please upgrade to the paid version from...:"

On the todo backup website, it specifically says that you CAN restore using the free version... yet the actual program tells me otherwise. I uninstalled the program, downloaded a fresh copy (which was actually a newer version) and tried again with the same results. I'm baffled as to why I can't get it to restore from a back-up and they offer ZERO support/help if you don't have the paid version.

I'm not sure if it's a problem with the program or if it's user error, since I'm a bit confused by the recovery process. When you first click "recovery" it brings up a screen asking you to select the source; my options are to select my entire SSD or an individual partition (the regular hard drive isn't shown). I've been selecting the entire SSD. Next, they ask you to choose a target and for that, I can choose either drive or a partition of either drive. Again, I've been selecting the entire SSD, because that's what I want to restore. The whole "source" thing confuses me, though - source for what? The back-up image is stored on the regular hard drive, which isn't even an option on the source selection screen.

I eventually gave up on todo backup and tried other routes. I tried the Lenovo Rescue System that came with the computer, but it claimed to not recognize the image saved with todo backup (whatever the "default" restore option was also didn't work). I also tried going through the control panel to get Windows to do it but when I tried to "Select another backup to restore from," it would only look for the backup on the network - it won't look on the hard drive. It's like Windows doesn't understand the very concept of a SSD for your OS and a regular hard drive for storage :S.

Anyone have any insight into how I can make use of the backup image I have, be it through todo backup or another program? ><

 

[John Connor]

I can't answer the question about restoring the image, but in the future try AOMEI Backupper. I use that to clone on an external HDD.

Have you tried system restore? Whocrashed can tell you what gave the blue screen.

 

[Imbrium]

System restore thought I didn't have any restore points, heh. I supposedly managed to get windows to reset to factory/default or whatever the option was; I say "supposedly" because it warned me that all the data on my PC would be erased. I assumed "PC" meant "the drive that Windows is on," meaning my SSD would get reformatted or w/e but my hard drive would be left alone. The thing is, though, there's a handful of programs that I ended up installing onto the SSD because I forgot or didn't bother to change the installation location to the storage drive and they're all still there - indicating that it clearly didn't wipe the SSD. Does that mean it only wiped the boot partition (as opposed to the one with the program files and windows folders) or that it didn't actually do anything?

I forgot I had written down what the blue screen of death said was wrong (got distracted before I got around to looking into it and it hasn't happened today) -DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL in USBXHCI.SYS. I just started skimming around for problems/solutions to that; looks like it has something to do with my USB ports, which probably explains why the comp suddenly started intermittently failing to recognize my mouse and keyboard, causing constant beeps as they disconnected/reconnected (a problem that, for whatever reason, doesn't seem to happen when each is plugged directly into a port on the computer but happens constantly if they're connected to either a KVM switch or a USB hub).

The main reason I wanted to do a restore or fresh install of windows so badly isn't actually because I thought it would fix the blue screen issues, but because windows update is FUBAR. I disabled it after I got my computer up and running because it pisses me off so much that I don't install updates unless I have a reason to (ie if it's not broken, don't mess with it). Between the BSODs and the realization that I wasn't actually running windows 8.1 yet (which requires me to do the updates I've ignored), it was clearly time to bite the bullet and get caught up on updates. I got all 98 installed and the comp wanted to reboot to finish... it went through that process it does before shutting down, then tried to do the last step of applying the updates on the reboot. I got some obnoxious error and it told me it had to undo the changes/updates... then it restarted, then I got the error again. I was really worried I was going to get stuck in an endless loop of that (a problem my boyfriend has had more than once on his comp), but thankfully it booted to windows on the third restart.

Anyway, after supposedly resetting Windows completely, I gave the updates another try... just finished, so now it's time to reboot and see if it fails again, heh.

 

[Imbrium]

I'm in shock. It actually worked. Updates installed/configured without a hitch this time and I've got windows 8.1 downloading! I'm so used to getting screwed by windows that I figured it wasn't done for the day yet, lol.

I would still like to know how to restore from a backup image, though, as I suspect that'll be relevant again at some point.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

That is very strange. I would update all drivers first when you can. Sorry I'm not familiar with EaseUS but you may have to buy the full version. Otherwise you can try Macrium Reflect which i've had good experiences with.

 

[John Connor]

You may have a USB controller issue or are under powered. Is the USB hub powered? It's not a cheap rip off? I bought a cheap rip off and it can't even work with a 2.5" external HDD. The computer's front USB ports are under powered for the external HDD and I have to use the main board USB ports on the back of the PC.

May want to check this thread out I recently created. Not sure if M$ fixed the problem or not. I NEVER install updates and turn the service completely off. My security policy and the firewall/ anti-virus and browser add-ons and use of Sandboxie are such that I really don't need to worry about updates. I just install the service packs. And even then I look to see if I'll have trouble with service packs. I have seen more people with M$ update problems.

You could try uninstalling the controller and reinstalling. Make sure the driver is on the computer. PS/2 mouse and keyboard comes in handy in situations like this. That's why I keep a spare.

 

[alexsmith43]

Use Disk Drill for Windows to restore deleted images for free http://diskdrill-windows-data-recovery.en.softonic.com

 

[Bubbaleone]

]I'm not sure if it's a problem with the program or if it's user error, since I'm a bit confused by the recovery process. When you first click "recovery" it brings up a screen asking you to select the source; my options are to select my entire SSD or an individual partition (the regular hard drive isn't shown). I've been selecting the entire SSD. Next, they ask you to choose a target and for that, I can choose either drive or a partition of either drive. Again, I've been selecting the entire SSD, because that's what I want to restore. The whole "source" thing confuses me, though - source for what? The back-up image is stored on the regular hard drive, which isn't even an option on the source selection screen.

Anyone have any insight into how I can make use of the backup image I have, be it through todo backup or another program?

The "source" is always the drive or volume containing the disk image you wish to restore. The #1 rule in disk management is that the the "source" image cannot reside on the same drive you're trying to restore to, even if it's stored on a seperate partition Your "source" image is the image you created on the HDD not the SSD...the SSD is the "target" you want to restore "to". You need to fix why the HDD isn't being recognized before you can ever restore the image you placed on it.

.

 

[Ryland]

I have used both the free and paid versions of EASUS and never had a problem restoring from either one. It could be that it thinks you are trying to restore to non-similar hardware which is only in the paid version.