Can i use time capsule as a backup drive?

i know that sounded stupid...
right now i have external hard drive where i back up my files like my music, jobs, music...because i don't have enough space on my internal drive
is it possible for me to "backup" by dragging them onto TC?
i don't even know if TC has an icon on the desktop...sorry
thanks

ironknee wrote:
i know that sounded stupid...
right now i have external hard drive where i back up my files like my music, jobs, music...because i don't have enough space on my internal drive
That's not a backup. That's extra storage. They are very different things.
A backup is a copy of something important, preferably on different hardware, so if one piece of hardware fails, you don't lose your only copy.
Depending on the sizes, your best bet is probably to put the original copies of things that won't fit on your MacBook on the external HD, and use Apple's +Time Machine+ to back both drives up to a Time Capsule.
Even better would be to get a larger internal HD for your MacBook, so you'd have room for all the originals there, and back it up either to an external HD or a Time Capsule.
The advantage of the Time Capsule is, of course, that you can back up wirelessly and also have a good WIFI router; the disadvantage is, it costs more than just an external HD.
You might want to review these:
What is Time Machine?
Time Machine Tutorial
and perhaps browse the Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum.

Similar Messages

Can I use Time Capsule as a backup drive on an existing network?

Sorry of this is an obvious question - but I have a WiFi network here (based on a Netgear Router) and want to be able to back up to a hard drive that's kept in another room.
(That way - if burglars steal my computer - they won't also steal all my backed-up files sitting on a hard drive next to my computer!)
1: Can I put a Time Capsule in the next room - get it to show up on my netwlrk - and back up to it?
2: Or is there a better / cheaper way to do this? Are there other hard drives you can hook up to a network? (I tried this a few years ago and the options weren't good...0
Thanks a lot,
- Greg

Just tried turning on the wireless in my TC - couldn't get it to connect to my router's wireless network. Status stays amber.
There have been several posts recently about people trying to get Airports/TCs to talk wirelessly to non-apple base stations and having problems.
You could always try turning off the wireless on your router and creating a new wireless network using the TC as the wireless base station. You'd have to connect the router to the TC with ethernet. Maybe you could move the router to the bedroom (or anywhere else that has a phone line, assuming that you've got an ADSL modem/router.
router > (ethernet) > TC > (wireless) > computers

Can i use time capsule as another hard drive?

Can I use time capsule as another hard drive?

You can, but it was not really designed for that purpose. Access to files will be quite a bit slower than a drive that is directly attached to your computer.
The Time Capsule's main function is as a back up device using the Time Machine application.
If you are using it already for Time Machine, it is generally not a good idea to mix Time Machine backups and regular files on the same drive as there will be struggle for space when the drive starts to fill up.

Can i use time capsule for external h drive and also for time machine?

Can i use time capsule for external h drive and also for time machine?

Hello, vascocaco.
If I understand correctly, you're wondering if you can use your Time Capsule's internal hard disk both for Time Machine backups and as an ordinary drive. Is this your question?
You can, but Time Machine backups may take longer.
To do it, you should partition your Time Capsule's hard disk to create one volume for the backups and one for other files.

Can i use time capsule as external hard drive for both mac and windows

I have a mac book pro, ipad and iphone and ipod and a windows pc
Can i use time capsule as a external hard disk only for all of the above ( including windows ) without the back up activity for mac ?

You cannot access the TC from iOS devices without a browser. eg filebrowser.
Can i use time capsule as a external hard disk only for all of the above ( including windows ) without the back up activity for mac ?
Yes, with the following proviso.. the TC is not able to back itself up.. so if you store files on the TC without backups one day you will discover all your files are gone because of a hard drive failure of the TC. TM also cannot backup TC.. so you will need to buy a proper backup software.
It is also much slower than a real NAS..
And windows can be a bit painful.. especially windows 8.. other versions should work if you spend the time getting everything set right.

Can I use Time Capsule like real backup?

I have two macbook airs home (plus ipad and iphone). Both macbook Airs have relativelly small ssd so most of the data (family photos etc). MUST be kept on File Server. I would like to use Time Capsule as that File Server but Im afraid its just single HD not Raid.
Am I right? It would be fundamental flaw in using of TC as real backup tool.
Or am I the only one who has data which are larger than my ssd in my notebook?
Thanks much for help!

I dont need "backup" for the situation when I accidently delete a file. :) I need backup for the situation when harddrive collapses. I cant agree with your statement that "A single hard disk is actually pretty reliable item".
Any harddrive fails sooner or later. Thats why I have all data on computer I use in work on raid. If one disk in raid fails the data are still on the second disk in raid. It saved my data two times already.
I want my family data (photos, movies from vacations, etc.) on at least TWO disks. But they are too big to fit in notebooks. So i need to put them on separate file server.
I guees the best will be to get Nas disk for my data. All important data will be on Nas (raid), all emails are on Imap. So actually I dont need to back up any data to TC.
Im wondering who really need to to use TC. If you keep data on Nas its more comfortable and more safe.

Can I use time capsule as a network drive?

I want to use the HD in my time capsule as a network drive in addition to backing up my macbook pro and imac desktop. I also have a couple of PCs anda yamaha tuner/amp on the network. Can this be done?

Click here and follow the instructions.
(66659)

Can you use time capsule as a hard drive

Can i use timecapsule as a external hard drive to store pictures and access them but not as a back up

Yes it can be mounted as an external HDD in finder and you can drag and drop on and off.

Can I use Time Capsule as external hard drive?

I've been getting "your startup disk is almost full" message, so I bought myself a Time Capsule on the advice of a friend. My question is...can I store stuff on my Time Capsule instead of my laptop? And if so, can my computer access the info in the Time Capsule? Specifically....if I don't have my music library stored on my computer, will iTunes still be able to access my library if I want to play some music, AND would my Sonos system be able to access it?
If I've just wasted 400 bucks on something I didn't really want....what SHOULD I get to store stuff on but that I can still access via iTunes, or my Apple TV, etc?
Thanks for any help, everybody!

1. You can, but are better off putting it on a regular external drive and using the Time Capsule for backups and as a router.
2. Yes.
3. Launch iTunes with the Option key held down and choose a library on it.
4. Noting #1, a regular external drive. You can generally use any USB one, but ones not specifically intended for Macs will need to be reformatted first.
(112894)

Can I use Time Capsule as a Hard Drive too?

My 500gb computer hard drive is full. However my Time Capsule has a 2 TB hard drive. Is their a way I can delete files off my hard drive and store them on the Time Capsule in a location other than the Backup folder? I need help because if I delete files from my hard drive, when my computer backs it up they will be gone. I guess what I need to know is if I can create a folder on Time Capsule to manually store files. Thanks. Jim

jsmnkcmo wrote:
LaPastenague (and AIO)
I am running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 (because last time I checked -- and it has been a while -- a software application I am using does not support Lion) and the TC is 4th generation, 2TB, Firmware Version 7.6.1.
Change the TC back to 7.5.2 it has far less issues than later firmware.
My original thought was to eliminate some clutter on my physical desktop and my home office by reducing the amount of media I have lying around and number of attachments to my iMac (without having to install a new HDD --internal or external-- on the iMac). Your post and the one below it concerns me about the reliability of the TC. Are TC’s really that unreliable? If the HDD in the TC fails, can the HDD be replaced? Do I need to ghost the HDD on the TC incase it crashes?
TC is designed as a wireless network backup for laptops.. more than anything that was the principle concern as people do not connect hard disk to a laptop and back them up.. so including it in the router was to help wireless users.. more than anyone or anything else. All devices die at some point.. if that is the only place your data is stored one day you will lose it.. bank on it.. now it is not likely to be tomorrow.. and it might not fail for 3years.. but you can easily corrupt it.. itunes and iphoto libraries should not be on network disks.. they can be on a media centre as a shared disk but really the TC is a device that is without backup.. if you corrupted it today .. when was the last time you backed it up.
The TC is a sealed unit.. You can open it and replace the disk.. Apple will deny warranty. If it breaks and you lose all your data in warranty.. apple will say or data or the TC .. take your pick. They will not help recover data.. they will offer a replacement at the cost of your original one. Thus ending its usefulness as a backup.. but you note if it was a backup then all the data is on disks elsewhere.
That is what Apple intends.. it is a backup not a file store.
Which would you recommend: upgrading the HDD on the iMac or just get an external HDD and hide it the best I can?
Whatever works for you. I think you can replace the DVD with a drive holder.. ?? I am not sure.. disk are hard to replace and expensive in iMac.. so hanging an external makes better sense. It can be a few feet/meters away.. Neatness.. is overrated.
I cannot see your screenshot and I don't know why it is greyed out.. Reset the TC and please don't use names with spaces or apostrophe in them..

Can I use Time Capsule as an external drive to store iTunes files, photos and to back-up my MacBook Air?

I need an external drive to back-up my MacBook Air. In addition, my iTunes library of music, TV shows & movies is pretty enormous and I'd like to move it from my MacBook to an external drive to free up space on the laptop.
I will need to access my iTunes library from my Apple TV and the MacBook. I also have an iPad which will need to sync with the external drive.
I would prefer the external drive to be wireless as I am very rarely docked when at home.
Is the Time Capsule the right piece of kit for the job?
Thanks.

Is the Time Capsule the right piece of kit for the job?
Not really, no.
TC is a dumb as board hard disk in an airport extreme router. It has no media servers.. no backup.. it is slow and designed for TM target for laptops. The major one here is lack of backup. Any files you put on the TC can and will be lost at some point.. and to backup you need to have a computer connected to it with an external hard disk.. and a 3rd party backup because TM is too dumb to back up network drives.
TC is designed to spin up slow and spin down quickly at the end of backup. You will have issues when you stream media from it.
ATV needs to connect to itunes server.. not the library. You will still need a computer running. Same for lots of things.. since apple designed their system to be dependent on itunes.
The best idea is a media computer.. a mac mini is ideal. Don't need the latest greatest.. but an actual mac running itunes. Unfortunately it doesn't have large internal drives.. so it is still a bit kludgy in needing a fast external drive.. but at least you have automatic backups.

HT1175 Can I use Time capsule as a hard drive

How can I put a folder on time capsule, I wanted to make a picture folder to manualy put pic off laptop

John,
You do not say what laptop you have.
Guessing a Mac, once you have your TC set properly for backup you should see your TC in Finder Window under Shared and its name (whatever you call it).
Just click on it, authenticate if you password protected it and you will have access to the drive.
You can create folders in there.
Just make sure you do not touch the sparsebundle files which are the Time Machine backups.

Can I use time capsule as a hard drive?

I want to use the 2tb time capsule as an extra hardrive as well for my time machine back up. Is this possible?

That is true but if you mix your files with the Time Machine backups, Time Machine will have trouble contril disk space when it gets low.
If you are going to do that it is recommended that you partition the drive. Since Time Capsule is not able to partition the drive that means you will have to remove it in order to partition it.
A simple solution IMO is to get another external drive and hang it on the USB bus in the Time Capasule.
Allan

Can I use Time Machine as a backup drive for my Vista 32 PC?

I cannot see any of my Mac computers or Time Machine on my network through my Vista PC, even though I have a wireless card in the PC which can connect wirelessly. I have my PC sitting next to my Time Machine that is the hub for my network. I am connected to the internet via ethernet connection daisy chained through my Time Machine which is connected to my cable router.
I cannot figure out why my PC cannot "see" my Imac, emac, Time Machine, and macbook that are all connected to my wireless network. The PC and Time machine are the only devices with an ethernet wired connection.
I would like to use the Time Machine's 1 terabyte drive to back-up my Vista PC.

I would first set up my mac and vista to do simple file sharing and then work my way from there. If you are unable to figure out simple fire sharing i would go look on other forums or advice. Its rather simple to do but it can also cause a lot of headaches. I have wanted to connect my mac and windows server to my network for a while and just recently figured it out.

Can I use Time Capsule as home network drive? I need to store data from my old pc's.

I am a new user of MacBook Air and Time Capsule.
I still have a lot of data on my old pc's and would like to store it on Time Capsule (2TB).
Is it possible?
Thank you in advance for advice.

Yes, you can. Note that everything you’d like to keep should be on at least two drives; one may fail at any time.
(125517)

Can i use time capsule as a backup drive?

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