Can the Time Capsule work if the hard drive is dead?

My Apple Time Capsule stop working yesterday.  I've tried resetting it using the various tips and I even called Apple support.  The light stays in the solid amber mode regardless of what I do.  When I try resetting it by holding in the reset button then powering on the capsule the light will blink (not quickly though) and when I release at after any amount of seconds it returns to amber.  I do hear a clicking sound (so the HD might be bad).  My question is should I be able to reset it and it show up in my Airport Utility even with a bad HD?

My question is should I be able to reset it and it show up in my Airport Utility even with a bad HD?
The device needs repairs. If the hard drive is defective it can be replaced. If you don't want to replace the hard drive, it is possible to wire the Time Capsule up as a wireless router only....but a repair shop will have to do this for you.
If you have tried the Factory Default Reset a few times, unfortunately that's really all you can do at this time.

Similar Messages

  • Windows not recognizing my time capsle - I just purchased a new computer that runs windows 8 and it doesn't want to recognize the time capsule as an external hard drive (ie doesn't show up under my compter).  I've downloaded airport utility...

    I just purchased a new computer that runs windows 8 and it doesn't want to recognize the time capsule as an external hard drive (ie doesn't show up under my compter).  I've downloaded and run airport utility, but it seems to have a hard time finding the time capsule...maybe one out of 10 times it will find it.
    What's more, when I look under network infrastructure under the control panel, it shows my Broadcom ADSL centurylink Router...so I'm wondering if my modem/router combo is overriding the router function on my timecapsule and the time capsule is not being used as a router...
    Any help much appreciated!

    In this case the TC should be in bridge mode.
    Win8 is still problematic. Try using ethernet instead of wireless. I think the drivers are poor still and it is well worth having a try via ethernet if you haven't already.
    Otherwise you will need to wait for apple to release bonjour for windows 8 and airport utility.. which is not out yet.
    Also make sure the windows is set to home, not work or public.. even turn off the firewall.
    Open windows explorer and type the TC ip address into the address bar.. (none of which is perhaps the same.. I gave away windows at vista.. shudder)
    \\TCIPadderss.

  • Is there a way to use the time capsule as an external hard drive only and disable the wi-fi function ?

    Is there a way to use the time capsule as an external hard drive only and disable the wi-fi function ?

    Yes.
    1) Connect an Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <--> ports on your existing wireless router to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule
    2) Go through the standard configuration suggested by the setup "wizard"
    3) Then manually turn off the wireless function using AirPort Utility

  • Can the time capsule work as a extra drive

    Can the time capsule work as a extra drive

    It is an extra drive that is being used for backup. That's what it's intended for. It's not really intended to be used as a storage drive, but you can use it in that fashion. However, backup and storage should be kept separate. If you need extra storage then buy another external drive but one the connects directly to your computer. Use the Time Capsule with Time Machine as your backup solution.

  • Question about the Time Capsule as an external hard drive...

    i know this might be a kind of dumb question, but does the time capsule also work as an external hard drive where i would be able to just drag and save whichever files i want...or does it only save files through backing up in time machine??? thank you in advance

    You don't need to consider FAT32 formatting for PC access.
    The closet thing to a "format" of the TC disk is via "erase" command in the Airport Utility. There's no consideration of truly formatting or in what format the disk would be laid out. For the USB attached drive the same applies when it is attached to the TC, but of course it can be formatted when directly attached to a PC or Mac.
    It is, in fact, often recommended that a USB attached drive be formatted as HFS+.
    The fact that the drive (either the TC drive or a USB attached drive) are accessed via network protocols as a network disk insulates the useing machine from the physical drive format details to a large degree.
    I have a TC with a USB attached drive. Both the TC drive and the USB attached drive are formatted as HFS+ but appear on Windows XP machines as:
    Type: Network Drive
    File system: FAT32
    There has been a lot of discussion of this in this forum:
    <http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7540393#7540393>
    Message was edited by: Steve Holton
    Message was edited by: Steve Holton

  • Will the USB port from the Time Capsule power an external hard drive?

    I am interested in purchasing an external hard drive (Iomega 1TB Helium Portable or G-Technology 750GB G-DRIVE mobile)
    to connect to my time capsule, expanding my wireless storage, but I want to know if the Time Capsule has a powered USB port or does the drive I purchase need to have its own power source? Also, Is there any compromise to using a drive that is USB powered, vs one that requires a power source?
    Thanks!

    Even if the hard drive that you choose has its own power supply, you usually need to use a powered USB hub with the Time Capsule.
    Reason....the USB port on the Time Capsule is under powered. You should not really rely on this port to power anything except a single printer.

  • Will Time Capsule work as External Hard-Drive?

    I'm looking for a device to move all my pics and video to as my MacBook Air is running out of storage. I was told by a sales guy at a Mac Store (not apple store) that the Airport Time Capsule would not work because it only does a mirror back-up and any files that I delete off my MacBook would also get deleted off the Time Capsule. First, is this true? Second if so what device will work as a wireless external hard drive for my MacBook?

    I was told by a sales guy at a Mac Store (not apple store) that the Airport Time Capsule would not work because it only does a mirror back-up and any files that I delete off my MacBook would also get deleted off the Time Capsule.
    There is some confusion here between Time Machine and Time Capsule.
    The software that backs up your Mac is Time Machine.. it is not going to provide an alternative to storage locally.. so if you delete items from the Mac hard disk .. TM will delete the file from the backup.
    What the Time Capsule basically is.. a wireless router with a dumb hard disk inside.. that has nothing to do with backups... but neither is it a fully fledged NAS.. it is kind of like any low level router to which you plug in a hard disk.. the fact that TC has it internal helps its speed but adds nothing to its functionality.
    You can indeed store your files on a TC..
    With the following provisions..
    1. Time Machine will no longer work. TM is limited to local disks..
    2. iphoto in particular is specifically stated by apple to be an application that needs a local disk.. using network disk.. ie TC will result in corruption.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5168
    Although mostly about FAT32   it adds network drives.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198
    Note this applies to all network drives.. not just TC .. everything.
    3. No backup.. your files are now sitting on a Time Capsule.. TM cannot back them.. and here TC fails to be a NAS.. all NAS can back themselves up to a backup USB disk.. TC cannot do this.. there is no incremental backup available.. and so if you want to backup your files you must do it manually ie copy and paste .. or use a decent backup software like Carbon Copy Cloner.. since it is beyond TM. And then the question arises . .where are you going to target the backups.. the very worst location is over wireless to a USB on the TC.. since that will make for extraordinarily slow backups.
    I'm looking for a device to move all my pics and video to as my MacBook Air is running out of storage.
    The correct place to do this is an external drive plugged into the MBA. So TM can continue to backup the files to the TC.
    if so what device will work as a wireless external hard drive for my MacBook?
    There is no such thing as a wireless external hard drive.. you must plug an external drive into the MBA by USB or FW or Thunderbolt depending on the age of the unit.. All wireless drives are network.. very few exist.. Most NAS are devices you plug into a wireless router.. and I would recommend against wireless built into a NAS.. it will not be as good or fast as a wireless router.
    TC can be pressed into service.. as long as you are prepared to deal with backups.. and the fact that you will eventually corrupt your iphoto library and should really use TC only for storage not live files.

  • Is it possible to setup the time capsule as an external hard drive (wireless)

    Hi, I have purchased a time capsule and looking to use it to automatically backup my data but also would like to see it on my mac book pro as an external hard drive (wireless); is that possible????????????? if yes how???

    OK.. the TC is really designed for wired connection.
    There is a hidden option.. hold the option key, when you select wireless mode, to join a wireless network. This is hidden because it is poor.. you join the TC to the mifi myfy and then yes, you can access it over wireless network.. but it is now half the speed of direct access due to double hop wireless. The TC is also going to not allow access directly by wireless or ethernet. So the option is there .. it is hidden due to being bad.
    You will particularly notice what happens now is during backups your internet will crawl.. because you are saturating the local connection.
    If I was in your situation.. I would buy thunderbolt to ethernet adapter and plug directly into the TC.. or scrap the TC and plug directly into a hard disk. The TC now gains you nothing.. it is unsuited to this sort of network.
    But another solution is to buy USB wireless stick.. these are tiny things.. and cheap and plenty are Mac OS compatible. Plug it in and use it as a secondary wireless client.. with fixed IP you can now connect directly to the TC .. single hop wireless.. much faster and no interference on the myfi link.
    You also don't have another wire plugged into your laptop which is messy.
    OR
    Scrap the myfy for a proper 3G router with ethernet.. you can usually just swap the sim over.. this is a much better solution as you put the TC back to its native correct operating mode..
    Well there are some possible solutions.

  • How To Use Time Capsule As An External Hard Drive?

    I backup my computer onto the time capsule using time machine.
    After that I want to have more space on my computer (becasue my hard drive is almost full) (I still want to have my local snapshots and daily backups) so I want to delete some of my files but I still want them on my time capsule and I know after I back my computer the files will be deleted so I go to finder/my time capsule (under shared)/data/my macbook pro/ then I go to my destop and see; 1: time machine backups 2: data... I go to data and create a new file that will contain everything that I wanted deleted off my macbook so the when the next backup comes, I will still have (in data on time capsule) my time machine backups and my deleted things... will this work? why or why not? I heard people saying that you have to choose the time capsule between a external hard drive or with time machine... but will this attempt work with both>???

    It will work but shouldn't be done, as the Time Capsule's internal drive may fail at any time. Anything you want to keep shouldn't be on only one drive.
    (80321)

  • Is possible to use Time Capsule as a external hard drive for my MA ?

    Hi,
    I wondering to know if i can use the time capsule as a external hard drive for my MACBOOK AIR i mean i dont want a backup i just want to be connected when i'm at home and transfer the data to the time capsule or simply uses data from there.
    Thanks!

    Yes, you can.
    (60321)

  • Trying to restore after getting a new hard drive.  I can see the backup on the Time Capsule and on the correct date but it is Greyed out.  That is it wont let me open it and restore the machine.  Have tried also Migration Assistant, no luck.

    Trying to restore after getting a new hard drive.  I can see the backup on the Time Capsule and on the correct date but it is Greyed out.  That is it wont let me open it and restore the machine.  Have tried also Migration Assistant, no luck.

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5210788?tstart=0
    At startup hold down the Command+Option/Alt+r keys until you see a globe on the screen. Then use disk utility to partition and format the drive HSF+ and then select Reinstall Mac OS X. whatever version of OS X that originally came on your system will be installed and then you can upgrade back to Mavericks.

  • How can i use the airport time capsule as a external hard drive?

    how can i use the airport time capsule as a external hard drive?

    Why do you recommend not place things like iTunes libraries or photo libraries on the drive? It was what I am looking for...
    I suggest that you ask the experts over in the iPhoto Support Community about their opinions on placing an iPhoto or Aperture library on the Time Capsule....even if you plan to use a wired connection for your Mac and the Time Capsule.
    But, if Terrence Devlin answers, be prepared for a lecture about why you should not ever do this.
    If you place the iTunes library on the Time Capsule, be prepared for iTunes to give you messages about not being able to find the library.
    In addtion, LaPastenague has the answer for you in a nutshell......corruption problems.
    Bottom line....the Time Capsule is for your backups.....not "everyday" files and especially not libraries.

  • Can u use time capsule as a normal hard drive and don't activate the time capsule in my macs?

    can u use time capsule as a normal hard drive and don't activate the time capsule in my macs?

    Yes, but it will be slow and expensive compared to just buying an external and plugging it in locally.

  • Can the time capsule works without WLAN cable connected to my DSL router?

    Cna the Time capsule work without WLAN cable connection to DSL router?

    WLAN is usually used for wireless LAN .. plainly you mean WAN port ..
    How do you expect to get internet if the TC is not connected to the internet?
    The TC can work stand alone.. true enough but that will then involve considerable issues in setting up two different IP addressing regimes .. you can just bridge the TC and use it as WAP and switch plus hdd without having to route.

  • How does the time capsule work?

    I am unfamiliar with this device. Can anyone explain how this works? I have a Gateway NV79, an IPad 2 and an IPhone. Will the time capsule work with these devices and a printer(Officejet Pro 8600)? If so, how does it do this? I am also wondering how it works as a router? Does it provide the internet access itself or do you have to have a separate source of internet to link to the device?

    A Time Capsule is a wireless router and a hard drive in one package. It does not have a modem built in, so a modem and broadband service is required if you want to be able to connect to the Internet.
    As a wireless router, the Time Capsule can provide connections for up to 50 users and 3 wired Ethernet devices. If you need more Ethernet connections, a switch can be easily added to the Time Capsule for that purpose.
    Your printer could connect to the Time Capsule using either a wired Ethernet connection or wireless connection
    Apple's literature does a good job of describing the product. Be sure to click the links in the upper right hand corner of the main page to learn more about the Backup capabilities, Wireless performance, and detailed Specifications.
    Time Capsule

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