My Book Essential Backup Will NOT Run

Several months with no problems but after a Complete Drive Test (found no problems)  Backup will not run.

Pause indicates Backup is running but no indication by the file count of backuped files.

Have tried to update Software from 1.2 to 1.6 and at the end it indicates the update to 1.6 was successful. However, on the Home screen I still have the 1.2 version.

Not sure cause/effect is at play here. Would like some suggestions.

uninstall the software and then install the latest version

make sure to update the firmware as well 

backup all data before the update