diff --git a/CMakeLists_files.cmake b/CMakeLists_files.cmake
index 6f59b156b..67c7c363b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists_files.cmake
+++ b/CMakeLists_files.cmake
@@ -153,7 +153,6 @@ list (APPEND PUBLIC_HEADER_FILES
   opm/autodiff/AutoDiffHelpers.hpp
   opm/autodiff/AutoDiffMatrix.hpp
   opm/autodiff/AutoDiff.hpp
-  opm/autodiff/BackupRestore.hpp
   opm/autodiff/BlackoilDetails.hpp
   opm/autodiff/BlackoilLegacyDetails.hpp
   opm/autodiff/BlackoilModel.hpp
diff --git a/opm/autodiff/BackupRestore.hpp b/opm/autodiff/BackupRestore.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 14dffb14e..000000000
--- a/opm/autodiff/BackupRestore.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,321 +0,0 @@
-/*
-  Copyright 2014 IRIS AS
-
-  This file is part of the Open Porous Media project (OPM).
-
-  OPM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-  (at your option) any later version.
-
-  OPM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-  GNU General Public License for more details.
-
-  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-  along with OPM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-*/
-
-#ifndef OPM_BACKUPRESTORE_HEADER_INCLUDED
-#define OPM_BACKUPRESTORE_HEADER_INCLUDED
-
-#include <iostream>
-#include <opm/common/data/SimulationDataContainer.hpp>
-
-
-#include <opm/core/simulator/BlackoilState.hpp>
-#include <opm/autodiff/WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil.hpp>
-
-namespace Opm {
-
-    namespace {
-        template <class T>
-        void writeValue( std::ostream& stream, const T& value )
-        {
-            stream.write( (const char *) &value, sizeof( T ) );
-        }
-
-        template <class T>
-        void readValue( std::istream& stream, T& value )
-        {
-            stream.read( (char *) &value, sizeof( T ) );
-        }
-
-        // write any container that provides a size method and a data method
-        template <class Vector>
-        void writeContainer( std::ostream& stream, const Vector& vector)
-        {
-            typedef typename Vector :: value_type T;
-            unsigned int size = vector.size() * sizeof( T );
-            writeValue( stream, size );
-            if( size > 0 ) {
-                stream.write( (const char *) vector.data(), size );
-            }
-        }
-
-        // write map where the key is a std::string
-        // and the value is a std::vector or std::array
-        template <class Map>
-        void writeMap( std::ostream& stream, const Map& m)
-        {
-            const unsigned int mapEntries = m.size();
-            writeValue( stream, mapEntries );
-            if( mapEntries > 0 )
-            {
-                const auto& end = m.end();
-                for(auto it = m.begin(); it != end; ++it )
-                {
-                    // write key (assume that key is a container)
-                    writeContainer( stream, (*it).first );
-                    // write value (assume that value is a container)
-                    writeContainer( stream, (*it).second );
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        template <class Container>
-        void resizeContainer( Container& container, size_t size )
-        {
-            container.resize( size );
-        }
-
-        template <class T, size_t n>
-        void resizeContainer( std::array<T, n>& /* a */, size_t size )
-        {
-            static_cast<void>(size);
-            assert( int(size) == int(n) );
-        }
-
-        template <class Container>
-        void readData(std::istream& stream, Container& container, size_t datasize)
-        {
-            stream.read( reinterpret_cast<char*>( container.data() ), datasize );
-        }
-
-        //We need to be careful with string, because string.data() returns something that
-        //"A program shall not alter any of the characters in this sequence."
-        template <>
-        void readData<std::string>(std::istream& stream, std::string& string, size_t datasize)
-        {
-            std::vector<char> raw_data(datasize);
-            readData(stream, raw_data, datasize);
-            string = std::string(raw_data.data(), datasize);
-        }
-
-        template <class Container>
-        void readContainerImpl( std::istream& stream, Container& container, const bool adjustSize )
-        {
-            typedef typename Container :: value_type T;
-            unsigned int dataSize = 0;
-            readValue( stream, dataSize );
-            if( adjustSize && dataSize > 0 ) {
-                resizeContainer( container, dataSize/sizeof(T) );
-            }
-
-            if( dataSize != container.size() * sizeof( T ) )
-            {
-                OPM_THROW(std::logic_error,
-                        "Size of stored data and simulation data does not match "
-                        << dataSize << " " << (container.size() * sizeof( T )) );
-            }
-            if( dataSize > 0 ) {
-                readData(stream, container, dataSize);
-            }
-        }
-
-        template <class Container>
-        void readAndResizeContainer( std::istream& stream, Container& container )
-        {
-            readContainerImpl( stream, container, true );
-        }
-
-        template <class Container>
-        void readContainer( std::istream& stream, Container& container )
-        {
-            readContainerImpl( stream, container, false );
-        }
-
-        template <class Map>
-        void readMap( std::istream& stream, Map& m)
-        {
-            m.clear();
-            unsigned int mapEntries = 0;
-            readValue( stream, mapEntries );
-            for( unsigned int entry = 0; entry<mapEntries; ++entry )
-            {
-                std::pair< typename Map :: key_type, typename Map :: mapped_type > mapEntry;
-                // read key
-                readAndResizeContainer( stream, mapEntry.first );
-                // read values
-                readContainer( stream, mapEntry.second );
-
-                // insert entry into map
-                m.insert( mapEntry );
-            }
-        }
-
-        enum { SimulatorStateId = 0,
-               WellStateId = 1,
-               WellStateFullyImplicitBackoilId = 3 };
-
-        inline int objectId( const SimulationDataContainer& /* state */) {
-            return SimulatorStateId;
-        }
-
-        inline int objectId( const WellState& /* state */) {
-            return WellStateId;
-        }
-
-        inline int objectId( const WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil& /* state */) {
-            return WellStateFullyImplicitBackoilId;
-        }
-
-        template <class State>
-        void checkObjectId( std::istream& in, const State& state )
-        {
-            // read id and compare with object
-            int id = -1;
-            readValue( in, id );
-            if( id != objectId( state ) ) {
-                OPM_THROW(std::logic_error,"backup-restore object type mismatch");
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    // SimulationDataContainer
-    inline
-    std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& out, const SimulationDataContainer& state )
-    {
-        // write id of object to stream
-        writeValue( out, objectId( state ) );
-
-        const int numPhases = state.numPhases();
-        writeValue( out, numPhases );
-
-        // write variables
-        writeContainer( out, state.pressure() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.temperature() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.facepressure() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.faceflux() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.saturation() );
-
-        return out;
-    }
-
-    inline
-    std::istream& operator >> (std::istream& in, SimulationDataContainer& state )
-    {
-        // check id of stored object
-        checkObjectId( in, state );
-
-        int numPhases = 0;
-        readValue( in, numPhases );
-
-        if( numPhases != (int) state.numPhases() )
-            OPM_THROW(std::logic_error,"num phases wrong");
-
-        // read variables
-        readContainer( in, state.pressure() );
-        readContainer( in, state.temperature() );
-        readContainer( in, state.facepressure() );
-        readContainer( in, state.faceflux() );
-        readContainer( in, state.saturation() );
-
-        return in;
-    }
-
-    // WellState
-    inline
-    std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& out, const WellState& state )
-    {
-        // write id of object to stream
-        writeValue( out, objectId( state ) );
-
-        // backup well state
-        writeContainer( out, state.bhp() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.temperature() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.wellRates() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.perfRates() );
-        writeContainer( out, state.perfPress() );
-
-        return out;
-    }
-
-    inline
-    std::istream& operator >> (std::istream& in, WellState& state )
-    {
-        // check id of stored object
-        checkObjectId( in, state );
-
-        // restore well state
-        readAndResizeContainer( in, state.bhp() );
-        readAndResizeContainer( in, state.temperature() );
-        readAndResizeContainer( in, state.wellRates() );
-        readAndResizeContainer( in, state.perfRates() );
-        readAndResizeContainer( in, state.perfPress() );
-
-        return in;
-    }
-
-    // WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil
-    inline
-    std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& out, const WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil& state )
-    {
-        // write id of object to stream
-        writeValue( out, objectId( state ) );
-
-        // backup well state
-        const WellState& wellState = static_cast< const WellState& > (state);
-        out << wellState;
-
-        const int numWells = state.numWells();
-        writeValue( out, numWells );
-        if( numWells > 0 )
-        {
-            const int numPhases = state.numPhases();
-            writeValue( out, numPhases );
-
-            // backup additional variables
-            writeContainer( out, state.perfPhaseRates() );
-            writeContainer( out, state.currentControls() );
-            writeMap( out, state.wellMap() );
-        }
-
-        return out;
-    }
-
-    inline
-    std::istream& operator >> (std::istream& in, WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil& state )
-    {
-        // check id of stored object
-        checkObjectId( in, state );
-
-        // restore well state
-        WellState& wellState = static_cast< WellState& > (state);
-        in >> wellState;
-
-        int numWells = 0;
-        readValue( in, numWells );
-        if( numWells != state.numWells() )
-            OPM_THROW(std::logic_error,"wrong numWells");
-
-        if( numWells > 0 )
-        {
-            int numPhases = 0;
-            readValue( in, numPhases );
-            if( numPhases != state.numPhases() )
-                OPM_THROW(std::logic_error,"wrong numPhases");
-
-            // restore additional variables
-            readAndResizeContainer( in, state.perfPhaseRates()  );
-            readAndResizeContainer( in, state.currentControls() );
-            readMap( in, state.wellMap() );
-        }
-
-        return in;
-    }
-
-} // namespace Opm
-
-#endif // OPM_BACKUPRESTORE_HEADER_INCLUDED
diff --git a/opm/autodiff/FlowMainEbos.hpp b/opm/autodiff/FlowMainEbos.hpp
index d6e6581d8..9bf162223 100755
--- a/opm/autodiff/FlowMainEbos.hpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/FlowMainEbos.hpp
@@ -360,7 +360,8 @@ namespace Opm
               strftime(tmstr, sizeof(tmstr), "%d-%m-%Y at %X", &tstruct);
               const double mem_size = getTotalSystemMemory() / megabyte;
               std::ostringstream ss;
-              ss << "\n\n\n ########  #          ######   #           #\n";
+              ss << "\n\n\n";
+              ss << " ########  #          ######   #           #\n";
               ss << " #         #         #      #   #         # \n";
               ss << " #####     #         #      #    #   #   #  \n";
               ss << " #         #         #      #     # # # #   \n";
@@ -693,11 +694,6 @@ namespace Opm
                     }
                 }
 
-                if (output_to_files_) {
-                    std::string filename = output_dir_ + "/walltime.txt";
-                    std::fstream tot_os(filename.c_str(), std::fstream::trunc | std::fstream::out);
-                    successReport.reportParam(tot_os);
-                }
             } else {
                 if (output_cout_) {
                     std::cout << "\n\n================ Simulation turned off ===============\n" << std::flush;
@@ -730,7 +726,6 @@ namespace Opm
                                            *fis_solver_,
                                            FluidSystem::enableDissolvedGas(),
                                            FluidSystem::enableVaporizedOil(),
-                                           eclState(),
                                            *output_writer_));
         }
 
diff --git a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorBase_impl.hpp b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorBase_impl.hpp
index 47c4240c1..770bcfcf5 100644
--- a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorBase_impl.hpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorBase_impl.hpp
@@ -132,19 +132,6 @@ namespace Opm
             }
         }
 
-        std::string restorefilename = param_.getDefault("restorefile", std::string("") );
-        if( ! restorefilename.empty() )
-        {
-            // -1 means that we'll take the last report step that was written
-            const int desiredRestoreStep = param_.getDefault("restorestep", int(-1) );
-
-            output_writer_.restore( timer,
-                                    state,
-                                    prev_well_state,
-                                    restorefilename,
-                                    desiredRestoreStep );
-        }
-
         DynamicListEconLimited dynamic_list_econ_limited;
         SimulatorReport report;
         SimulatorReport stepReport;
diff --git a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilEbos.hpp b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilEbos.hpp
index 63d86dd33..505b407b5 100644
--- a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilEbos.hpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilEbos.hpp
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ public:
                                        NewtonIterationBlackoilInterface& linsolver,
                                        const bool has_disgas,
                                        const bool has_vapoil,
-                                       const EclipseState& /* eclState */,
                                        OutputWriter& output_writer)
         : ebosSimulator_(ebosSimulator),
           param_(param),
@@ -122,6 +121,7 @@ public:
             is_parallel_run_ = ( info.communicator().size() > 1 );
         }
 #endif
+        createLocalFipnum();
     }
 
     /// Run the simulation.
@@ -162,16 +162,8 @@ public:
 
         // Create timers and file for writing timing info.
         Opm::time::StopWatch solver_timer;
-        Opm::time::StopWatch step_timer;
         Opm::time::StopWatch total_timer;
         total_timer.start();
-        std::string tstep_filename = output_writer_.outputDirectory() + "/step_timing.txt";
-        std::ofstream tstep_os;
-
-        if ( output_writer_.output() && output_writer_.isIORank() )
-        {
-            tstep_os.open(tstep_filename.c_str());
-        }
 
         // adaptive time stepping
         const auto& events = schedule().getEvents();
@@ -192,29 +184,9 @@ public:
             }
         }
 
-        std::string restorefilename = param_.getDefault("restorefile", std::string("") );
-        if( ! restorefilename.empty() )
-        {
-            // -1 means that we'll take the last report step that was written
-            const int desiredRestoreStep = param_.getDefault("restorestep", int(-1) );
-
-            output_writer_.restore( timer,
-                                    state,
-                                    prev_well_state,
-                                    restorefilename,
-                                    desiredRestoreStep );
-            initHydroCarbonState(state, phaseUsage_, Opm::UgGridHelpers::numCells(grid()), has_disgas_, has_vapoil_);
-            initHysteresisParams(state);
-            // communicate the restart solution to ebos
-            convertInput(0, state, ebosSimulator_);
-            ebosSimulator_.model().invalidateIntensiveQuantitiesCache(/*timeIdx=*/0);
-        }
-
         SimulatorReport report;
         SimulatorReport stepReport;
 
-        createLocalFipnum();
-
         WellModel well_model(ebosSimulator_, model_param_, terminal_output_);
         if (output_writer_.isRestart()) {
             well_model.setRestartWellState(prev_well_state); // Neccessary for perfect restarts
@@ -225,7 +197,6 @@ public:
         // Main simulation loop.
         while (!timer.done()) {
             // Report timestep.
-            step_timer.start();
             if ( terminal_output_ )
             {
                 std::ostringstream ss;
@@ -321,11 +292,6 @@ public:
             // update timing.
             report.solver_time += solver_timer.secsSinceStart();
 
-            if ( output_writer_.output() && output_writer_.isIORank() )
-            {
-                stepReport.reportParam(tstep_os);
-            }
-
             // We don't need the reservoir state anymore. It is just passed around to avoid
             // code duplication. Pass empty state instead.
             if (timer.initialStep()) {
diff --git a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.cpp b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.cpp
index 58c79cc16..3dec4af6a 100644
--- a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.cpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include <opm/parser/eclipse/Units/Units.hpp>
 
 #include <opm/autodiff/GridHelpers.hpp>
-#include <opm/autodiff/BackupRestore.hpp>
 
 #include <sstream>
 #include <iomanip>
@@ -351,107 +350,6 @@ namespace Opm
                                       restart_double_si_);
             }
         }
-
-        // write backup file
-        if( backupfile_.is_open() )
-        {
-            int reportStep      = timer.reportStepNum();
-            int currentTimeStep = timer.currentStepNum();
-            if( (reportStep == currentTimeStep || // true for SimulatorTimer
-                 currentTimeStep == 0 || // true for AdaptiveSimulatorTimer at reportStep
-                 timer.done() ) // true for AdaptiveSimulatorTimer at reportStep
-               && lastBackupReportStep_ != reportStep ) // only backup report step once
-            {
-                // store report step
-                lastBackupReportStep_ = reportStep;
-                // write resport step number
-                backupfile_.write( (const char *) &reportStep, sizeof(int) );
-
-                try {
-                    backupfile_ << state;
-
-                    const WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil& boWellState = static_cast< const WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil& > (wellState);
-                    backupfile_ << boWellState;
-                }
-                catch ( const std::bad_cast& e )
-                {
-                }
-
-                backupfile_ << std::flush;
-            }
-        } // end backup
-    }
-
-    void
-    BlackoilOutputWriter::
-    restore(SimulatorTimerInterface& timer,
-            BlackoilState& state,
-            WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil& wellState,
-            const std::string& filename,
-            const int desiredResportStep )
-    {
-        std::ifstream restorefile( filename.c_str() );
-        if( restorefile )
-        {
-            std::cout << "============================================================================"<<std::endl;
-            std::cout << "Restoring from ";
-            if( desiredResportStep < 0 ) {
-                std::cout << "last";
-            }
-            else {
-                std::cout << desiredResportStep;
-            }
-            std::cout << " report step! filename = " << filename << std::endl << std::endl;
-
-            int reportStep;
-            restorefile.read( (char *) &reportStep, sizeof(int) );
-
-            const int readReportStep = (desiredResportStep < 0) ?
-                std::numeric_limits<int>::max() : desiredResportStep;
-
-            while( reportStep <= readReportStep && ! timer.done() && restorefile )
-            {
-                restorefile >> state;
-                restorefile >> wellState;
-
-                // No per cell data is written for restore steps, but will be
-                // for subsequent steps, when we have started simulating
-                writeTimeStepWithoutCellProperties( timer, state, wellState, {}, {});
-
-                // some output
-                std::cout << "Restored step " << timer.reportStepNum() << " at day "
-                          <<  unit::convert::to(timer.simulationTimeElapsed(),unit::day) << std::endl;
-
-                if( readReportStep == reportStep ) {
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                // if the stream is not valid anymore we just use the last state read
-                if( ! restorefile ) {
-                    std::cerr << "Reached EOF, using last state read!" << std::endl;
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                // try to read next report step
-                restorefile.read( (char *) &reportStep, sizeof(int) );
-
-                // if read failed, exit loop
-                if( ! restorefile ) {
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                // next step
-                timer.advance();
-
-                if( timer.reportStepNum() != reportStep ) {
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            std::cerr << "Warning: Couldn't open restore file '" << filename << "'" << std::endl;
-        }
     }
 
 
diff --git a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.hpp b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.hpp
index ecdc9d94e..01ec8c911 100644
--- a/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.hpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/SimulatorFullyImplicitBlackoilOutput.hpp
@@ -289,13 +289,6 @@ namespace Opm
             return parallelOutput_->isIORank();
         }
 
-        void restore(SimulatorTimerInterface& timer,
-                     BlackoilState& state,
-                     WellStateFullyImplicitBlackoil& wellState,
-                     const std::string& filename,
-                     const int desiredReportStep);
-
-
         template <class Grid, class WellState>
         void initFromRestartFile(const PhaseUsage& phaseUsage,
                                  const Grid& grid,
@@ -315,9 +308,6 @@ namespace Opm
         const std::string outputDir_;
         const bool restart_double_si_;
 
-        int lastBackupReportStep_;
-
-        std::ofstream backupfile_;
         Opm::PhaseUsage phaseUsage_;
         std::unique_ptr< BlackoilSubWriter > vtkWriter_;
         std::unique_ptr< BlackoilSubWriter > matlabWriter_;
@@ -354,7 +344,6 @@ namespace Opm
         parallelOutput_( output_ ? new ParallelDebugOutput< Grid >( grid, eclipseState, schedule, phaseUsage.num_phases, phaseUsage ) : 0 ),
         outputDir_( eclipseState.getIOConfig().getOutputDir() ),
         restart_double_si_( output_ ? param.getDefault("restart_double_si", false) : false ),
-        lastBackupReportStep_( -1 ),
         phaseUsage_( phaseUsage ),
         eclipseState_(eclipseState),
         schedule_(schedule),
@@ -390,12 +379,6 @@ namespace Opm
 
                 // Ensure that output dir exists
                 ensureDirectoryExists(outputDir_);
-
-                std::string backupfilename = param.getDefault("backupfile", std::string("") );
-                if( ! backupfilename.empty() )
-                {
-                    backupfile_.open( backupfilename.c_str() );
-                }
             }
 
             // create output thread if enabled and rank is I/O rank