New Install full product but Clone Disk just produces error

I have just installed this product. I get warnings that Acronis 'Cannot determine Sync Agent service state' and tells you to restart your pc. After restarting three times with no luck I give up.

So now i try to clone my disk (the whole point of buying Acronis in the first place). What do I get? Another error: 'Failed to open (initialise) the computer'.

I bought this software because it was supposed to be easy. Far from it. This is nasty stuff.

What is going on with this software? How do I get it working?

I'm using Windows 8.1 Pro with 8 gig memory 64 bit.

I'm extremely frustrated at my experience with this software already and if this continues I will demand a refund!

The first error (schedule) asked me to go to a website and paste the error information in : all I got back was 'this error is not recognised'. Exactly what is the point of that?

Easy?