Can I connect an external hard drive to my Airport Express and share it to store files on between two machines via the usb port. The machines are a MacBook and a fairly new Win machine. Printers and Airplay as well as wifi work perfect.

Wondering about the above.

... I bought a hard drive at an Apple store because they told me I could hook it up through my Airport express.
Bzzt. Nope. Bring it back.
Read: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2421
Question: What is an AirPort Express?
Answer: An AirPort Express is a Wi-Fi base station. Besides acting as an Internet access point, it has several specialized features which make it ideal for specific needs.
Printer - Act as a wireless interface for one printer connected to the USB port, making it available to your network
"Hook it up" - in the sense that a wireless device may be wirelessly "hooked up" to an Express - is a different matter; like "hooking up" with a friend.
Words mean things. Imprecise words mean imprecise things. That generally doesn't end well.
Apple ought to read this stuff once in a while.
John Galt wrote:
I thought you were asking about a USB hard disk attached to the Express. That won't work.
I thought right. That won't work. An Extreme or Time Capsule will.

Similar Messages

  • Will connecting an external hard drive through an airport express work?

    Using an airport express can an external hard drive be used successfully to store photo files directly to be used with Iphoto?

    The only way a network drive format can be relevant is using a virtual disk. Otherwise it is not offering HFS+ or FAT32 or NTFS or anything else.. it is offering a network protocol for file storage. You can of course create a virtual disk space using methods pondini mentions here.
    http://pondini.org/TM/TCQ3.html
    I know TM requires HFS+ to work.. and I do have it working on an SMB drive in a NAS.. the NAS has formatted the drives XFS I think or EXT3.. but it will be some linux format.. TM creates the sparsebundle on the disk.. the sparsebundle is a virtual disk which is HFS+ as required..
    Whether that is required ofr iphoto I don't have experience with to know. You could well be right.. in which case it explains why iphoto gives so much trouble if people even use TC as a place to store the library.
    Nevertheless the NAS itself cannot use HFS+.. the only device that i know of that uses HFS+ for internal format of the disk is Time Capsule. There is no other NAS on the market that uses it because Linux cannot reliably write HFS+.. it can handle HFS. Almost every NAS in existence runs Linux.. again the TC is unusual running NetBSD. Which is probably a requirement so it can run HFS+ on the disk. And so Time Machine can work reliably.

  • Can I connect an external hard drive to Time Capsule for off site back up?

    I like having a copy of everything at another site in case of a house fire. Can I connect an external hard drive to Time Capsule to make a duplicate of what is on Time Capsule? I would store that hard drive at work and bring it home monthly or something to back up Time Capsule. Thanks!

    Can I connect an external hard drive to Time Capsule to make a duplicate of what is on Time Capsule?
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    Another option would be to use a commercial application like Carbon Copy Cloner to keep your backup.  The advantage to this approach is that once the first "master" backup is done, the application will only back up the changes on the Time Capsule that have occurred since the last backup. So, subsequent backups will be much faster, probably only taking about 10-15 minutes.

  • Can i connect an external hard drive?

    Can I connect an external hard drive to the ipad? How about the new one or the iPad 2?  I would like to be able to watch movies stored on the external drive.

    Ordinarily no but I seem to recall someone once describing such a device.  Mr. Google is your friend.

  • Can i connect a external hard drive to apple tv 3 generation, for see my movies itunes with out use streaming or icloud?

    can i connect a external hard drive to apple tv 3 generation, for see my movies itunes with out use streaming or icloud?  in apple tv 3 and 2?
    That  i want to know is i can connect a external hard drive to apple tv, for see my movies that i keep in my external hard drive,  i dont want to see then  whit the streaming and icloud, or used my  laptop o pc for access de movies and stuff.
    i put iny spanish to, because i feel my english is not so good, but i hope you understand me.
    if i can´t  connect a external hard  drive, wich others media players divices you know that can see itunes movies?
    ¿quisiera saber si se puede conectar una memoria externa al apple tv, para ver el contenido de itunes que tengo guardado en esa memoria como peliculas, ect?
    lo que no quiero es usar  la icloud, o el servicio streamig para ver mi contenido, ni tener que usar la computadora para ver mi contenido el la tv?
    y de no poderse conectar  que otros dispositivos media pleyer conoces para ver peliculas de itunes  en la tv?

    Welcome to the Apple Community.
    can i connect a external hard drive to apple tv 3 generation
    Unfortunately not.

  • Can I connect an external hard drive to one of the ethernet port of the airport extreme and access it from my Mac or PC?

    Can I connect an external hard drive to one of the ethernet port of the airport extreme and access it from my Mac or PC?

    If this hard drive is part of a NAS device, then yes it should be accessable from either a Mac or PC while connected to the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) by Ethernet.

  • Can I connect an external hard drive, with a FireWire connector to AirPort Extreme?

    I am considering getting AirPort Extreme. I need to be able to connect an external hard drive with a firewire connection. Can it be done?

    Sorry, but no.

  • Can i connect an external hard drive to my ipad?

    I am getting an Ipad Air soon, and will be getting a Macbook next year, not decided which one yet but is their any chance i can connect an external hard drive to my Ipad? Im getting the less memory one because i cant afford the higher one yet my parents have offered to get me an external hard drive... With me going to uni next year and having to use my ipad in lectures this could really help :/

    There are WiFi Hard Drives that you can use within iPad, but by the time that you factor in the price for that you might be better off just asking mom and dad to help pay for the larger capacity iPad and use iTunes and your Mac for the "external storage" that you might need.
    Really - if you are going to purchase a MacBook and an iPad, I don't see any need at all for an external drive. But take a look here.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=WiFi%20Hard%20Drives%20for%20iPd

  • Can I connect an externa hard drive and access files from 2 or more computers wirelessly?

    Is there a way to connect an external hard drive to my linksys modem and access the files wirelessly by 2 or more computers?
    I have a wireless G wrt54G modem working on windows XP a desktop and laptop on my home system. I have a WD “my book” external hard drive with a usb interface. My modem does not have a USB interface.
    At work I also have 4 laptops  using XP and vista and looking to have them all access an external hard drive and printers. I have not selected a hard drive for the work system.
    If yes can I add 2 or more printers and print form all connected computers?
    If yes, is it possible to access the files of the external hard drive (home system) via the internet?
    Thanks in advance for all your help

    First, your WRT54G is a router, not a modem. Different function.
    Yes, you can  "connect an external hard drive... and access the files wirelessly by 2 or more computers," just not that external hard drive. You need one that supports network attachment, with an ethernet connection.
    And you can print to printers from various computer, again if the printers are made to support that.
    The answer to your last question is maybe. Oh, it's definitely possible, but may require learning about static IP addresses, dynamic DNS, firewalls, port forwarding, file sharing...

  • I am having an issue with connecting my external hard drive to my airport time capsule.

    I just recently purchased the new AirPort Time Capsule.  The network set-up easily.  However, when I connected my external hard drive (via USB) to it, the external hard drive does not show up in my Finder and I am otherwise unable to access the external hard drive from any computer connected the the network.  When I plug the external hard drive in directly to my iMac, the external hard drive is recognized right away and I am able to access all folders.  Any tips?

    Check to make sure that the drive is formatted in Mac OS Extended Journaled or FAT32.
    If the drive is formatted correctly and recognized by the Time Capsule, it will appear when you open AirPort Utility and click on the Disks tab.
    Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
    Click the Time Capsule icon, then click Edit
    Click the Disks tab at the top of the next page
    If the drive is formatted correctly and not recognized, you will likely need to use a powered USB hub with the drive....even if the drive has its own power supply, since the USB port on the Time Capsule tends to be underpowered.

  • Can I connect an external hard drive to my time capsule to add virtual hard drive space?

    I would like to make a 4 TB external hard drive available wirelessly on my home network.  I have heard that I could connect it to my router or my Time Capsule to do this.  Is this possible?  Is there any special setup I need to do to enable this to work? 
    Additionally, I have two Macbooks in the house and have recently purchased a second Time Capsule.  I would like to back up each computer to its own Time Capsule.  Is there a configuration that would make this possible?
    If the two Time Capsules are connected together via an ethernet cable (in extend the network mode), and one elects to back both of their computers up to the primary Time Capsule, does the primary use the secondary Time Capsule's hard drive space to continue backing up once it becomes full?
    Thanks in advance for any advice you all may have for me in this situation!

    See if Pondini can help http://pondini.org/TM/Home.html

  • I am attempting to connect an external hard drive to my airport extreme and see this hard drive under time machine preferences. I used to able to do this under Leopard, but no longer under lion, even after downloading Airport utility 5.6.

    Hi, I am attempting to see my extrenal hard drive, connected to my airport extreme base station, in time machine. I formatted the disk, backed up my mackbook pro to it via usb, and now want to be able to backup over wifi with my disk connected to my airport extreme base station. I spoke with Apple Care, and they told me Apple doens't support this. I used to be able to do this with my older MB pro and under older osx's. I do see the external hard drive connected under disks, just not in time machine preferences. Is there a workaround available that anyone is aware of?
    Thank you so much,
    Tabeer

  • Can I connect a external hard drive to the TC thru the Ethernet instead of the USB port so it will transfer data faster

    I Want to connect the external hard drive so that I can transfer files faster then the USB 2.0. There is a thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter that you can buy  I I just want to know if the hard drive can be accessed thru the Ethernet line instead of the USB.  I think it will work faster than the USB.  But not sure

    It won't work.. the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter doesn't work without drivers and the external thunderbolt drive is not now or ever a network drive.
    Yes you can plug an ethernet type drive into the TC.. or into anywhere on the network.. it is after all another network drive..
    eg Another TC is a network drive.
    Seagate or WD make reasonably priced network drives. But they will not have the HFS+ format which the TC does.
    You can buy a NAS from any of a whole range of companies.. A NAS is an ethernet connected drive.
    See the reviews here to pick a NAS.
    http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/nas/nas-charts/view

  • How can I connect an external hard drive to my ipad

    How can I add additional data storage to my ipad 2?

    There are some wireless external hard drives that can be used with the iPad.
    The Kingston Wi-Drive, which costs $50 for the 16 Gigabyte, and then $30 more for every 16 gigs more. It works by you turning it on and then accessing the files on it from an app that you download on your iDevice. You can access music, movies, and other stuff. No connections or anything, it works like a WiFi connection, you connect to it from the setting on the iPad under wireless networks.
    Then there is the Seagate GoFlex, which some would recommend over the Wi-Drive. But this one costs $199 and had 500 Gigabytes of storage. It works the sameway as the Kingston: no wires, runs over its wireless connection. You can actually fit up to 300 HD movies on it.
    Another option:
    Expand your iPad's storage capacity with HyperDrive
    http://www.macworld.com/article/1153935/hyperdrive.html
    On the road with a camera, an iPad, and a Hyperdrive
    http://www.macworld.com/article/1160231/ipadhyperdrive.html
     Cheers, Tom

  • Can I Connect an External Hard Drive to an older Airport Extreme?

    I have an Airport Extreme V5.7 and was wondering if I can connect it to my external Hard drive via USB. Is this possible? Right now I have it hooked up but I don't see it anywhere on my PB G4. It mentions that I can hook up a USB Printer but I would hope that it could connect to an external hard drive as well. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks,

    The round AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) do not support USB hard drives.

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