Time Capsule for use as Backup? As hard drive? As paperweight?

Hi all,
after the third failure of the TC, this time with an internal disk error, I decided to ask in this forum whether someone knew of a proper solution to the problem. Not finding one, I just had to erase my TC disk, and start everything from scratch. Now, I want to post this here so people know of the opinion of a -well, just another- very disappointed user of the TC.
If the TC is not reliable for backups (as shown by the three times in four months or so that I had to trash everything and start from scratch), what do I want it for?
Maybe to use it as a hard disk? To store your iPhoto library for instance (so different users can share the same iPhoto, as recommended by Apple themselves in view of the tough restrictions on permissions in Leopard)? Hah!! And then, what happens when the TC fails due to the backup and you can not see it as a normal disk at all? You lose ALL your pics that you had copied there, plus backed-up because a) your image disk with the copy can not be mounted and b) the TC backup failed and can not be restored?
So, if it is not useful for backup, nor as an external hard drive, what is it useful for? To use it as a paperweight, as someone was writing in his signature footing somewhere?
I am still an Apple believer. Hope I continue for long, but the ridiculously limited service they seem to be providing when users are having problem is making me start to have serious doubts.... despite the many discussions I have had with my brother in law (a hectic PC supporter)
Cheers, (with loads of disappointment)
P.

TC use;
I don't do TMachine.
I use the hard disk with the GO function of the Finder.
I don't use TC as a main backup drive.
I use it for file sharing between my network and outside of my network when I need files. Example, I live in Michigan but was visiting in Pennsylvania when I needed a .mv4 file(golf instruction I made two years ago). I used the afp function and connected to my TC and downloaded that file.
I have not used my flash drives for months because I use TC to transfer files between the Macs on my network.
I also use TC to point movies to my ATV and any other Mac on my network to stream those TC movies.
So there are many wonderful functions that TC can do for a person. Just pick the appropriate ones.

Similar Messages

Can the time capsule be used as an external hard drive

Can the time capsule be used as an external hard drive

If you mean by usb to a computer no.. it is a network device only and has to be used via ethernet or wireless.
It can be used standalone,, ie not plugged into an existing network.. but there are some steps required to make it work if you want internet connection at the same time. It is generally much easier to have the TC bridged into the network.

Can an Apple Time capsule be used as a external hard drive?

Hello I have a 4th Generation time capsule and I've had it for some time now and never used it and I was wondering if it could be used as a external hard drive instead of just a back up disk. Also I am planning to install a copy of Windows 7 on my Mid 2011 21.5" iMac and I was wondering if Windows would recognize the TC as a external hard drive and would alow me to use it as such.

It is not an external hard disk.. you cannot use it via USB if that is what you mean.
It is now and forever more a Network drive. You can store files on it as a network drive.. with the following provisos.
Store files on the TC.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/24380694#24380694
This is asked several times a day.. obviously people are struggling with their latest SSD being too small.
The TC is not suitable for network file server.. but many people having no choice press it into service as such.
It cannot be partitioned. It was and is and ever shall be a backup device for Time Machine.
Major issues.
1. No backup.. no way Time Machine can backup a network drive. No place to backup to.. So all your files will be at risk. And you will need to buy a third party like CCC to do backup.
2. The TC cannot be partitioned and mixing TM backups and data is not great.
3. The drive is slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. there is no controls.
4. iPhoto in particular can easily corrupt its entire library with wireless networking causing a disconnection to one photo. Even if you do this;;; do not move your photo library... you have been warned!!
5. iTunes will constantly lose connection to the library. The disk is too slow to respond.. itunes on the computer will constantly spit out errors. Even in the midst of streaming the TC can spin down the disk due to caching.
6. Do not use any live files on the TC no matter what else you do.. if you edit files in whatever program the file must be on the local hard disk.
7. The only suitable location for most libraries is a computer. You can plug in an external hard disk.
Read pondini for some work arounds.
Q3 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
Windows can also use the TC for files. Much the same warnings apply.

Can Time Capsule Be Used Only as a Hard Drive, Not as a Router?

I have been using a Time Capsule as a router and as a wireless backup system for a year, but had endless trouble with the dual use, since my personal Macbook is on the second floor of my house and the router must reside in the basement, where we have other computers. Wireless backups are much too slow. So I replaced the Time Capsule with an Airport Extreme Base Station, which works fine. I'd like to continue using the Time Capsule, but solely for backups and not as a router, and connect the TC by ethernet or usb directly to the MacBook. Can this be done, and if so, how? Thanks!

Hello JohnFrancis. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I'd like to continue using the Time Capsule, but solely for backups and not as a router, and connect the TC by ethernet or usb directly to the MacBook. Can this be done, and if so, how?
Yes it can. You would just need to disable its wireless radio. You will also need to connect it by Ethernet as the TC's USB port is only for connecting it to USB hard drives, printers, and/or hubs.
To disable the radio: AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Time Capsule > Wireless tab > Wireless Mode = Off

Can time capsule be used as an external hard drive for storing media

Can you use it in such a way that you put movies and music and home vidoes on there to be accessed on when on the network along with using it for backing up data. Could it be used in such a way that you can access your files when on wifi from anywhere?

TC is not designed to be a NAS.. principally it is lacking any means to back itself up. And TM cannot backup a network drive.
If you put data on it like your movies and music in raw format that is fine.. if you put your itunes or iphoto etc library on it.. you will find it is slow to start, quick to stop, stutters and has issues. Also wireless frankly is just not that good.
I am not sure how far away is anywhere?? Do you mean remote access? That is possible via btmm using icloud.
The problem is, TC is not a media player.. it is a dumb as a board hard disk in a router.
How are you going to play your videos or music unless you move itunes library onto the TC??

Can the 2013 airport time capsule be used as an external hard drive

or do you have to purchase a separate external hard drive and connect it to the time capsule??

Under the same network, I do use it as a music server (iTunes library) and files to share.
If you have an apple ID, you can get access to this drive any where via Back to My Mac

I used an ethernet cable between my iMac and Time Capsule for the initial backup. Now that initial backup is concluded, can I simply unplug the Time Capsule from my computer?

I used an ethernet cable between my iMac and Time Capsule for the initial backup. Now that initial backup is concluded, can I assume I can simply unplug the Time Capsule from my computer without any glitches and Time Capsule will then run wirelessly. Is this assumption correct?

can I assume I can simply unplug the Time Capsule from my computer without any glitches and Time Capsule will then run wirelessly. Is this assumption correct?
Yes, if the computer will be able to receive a strong wireless signal from the Time Capsule.
I did not disable wireless. So I assume the backups are occurring both with the ethernet and wirelessly.
It is inot possible to have both an "active" Ethernet and "active" wireless signal simultaneously. If an Ethernet connection is established, your computer will default to the Ethernet connection. If the Ethernet cable is unplugged, the computer will revert to the wireless connection.
I also show 2 wireless networks available through Airport. Shouldn't there only be one now?
You have a simultaneous dual band Time Capsule. That means that it will always be providing both a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz network.
I named my new network the same name as the old network. This enabled all of our devices to continue with their connection without entering the new network and/or passwords; however, I am afraid this may pose problems in the future somehow. Any input on this issue as well?
Things should be fine. Devices will connect to the best signal.....either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz....based on their capabilties and location in relation to the Time Capsule.

How can I move (copy) my Time Capsule date to a new 2T hard drive and then wipe the TC and start as a new (clean) Time MACHINE backup?

How can I move (copy) my Time Capsule date to a new 2T hard drive and then wipe the TC and start as a new (clean) Time MACHINE backup?

Just use the archive utility on the disk page of the airport utility manual setup..
If you have lion and v6 airport utility.. it missed out. On lots of things.
Download and install the real.. UTILITY
5.6 http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

After I configure my time capsule to my newly replaced macbook hard drive, are my old backups still available?

After I configure my time capsule to my newly replaced macbook hard drive, are my old backups still available?

How old was this backup? It sounds like it was at least several weeks old.
You can look directly in the TM backup for the music.
1. Connect to the external HDD the backup is kept on.
2. Open a Finder window and select the backup drive in the left hand panel. Double click into the folders until you see a list of folders with dates.
These are the incremental backups. You can start at the top or the bottom of the list but I suggest you double Latest/<HDD Name>/Users/<Account Name>/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music. From this location you can start looking for the "missing" music. When/if you find it you can simply drag-n-drop to ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music on the internal HDD.
If the music is actually not in the backups (for whatever reason) then you've got a problem.
You can download the uploaded files from the cloud by deleting the affected tracks from the iTunes library (but not the cloud!), highlighting multiple tracks at once, right-clicking and choosing "download."

How to use AirPort Time Capsule 2TB as an external storage hard drive only?

I have a new AirPort Time Capsule 3TB, now I want to use my AirPort Time Capsule 2TB as an external storage hard drive only, how do I it?
I would like to connect the AirPort Time Capsule 2TB directly to my Mac Pro. using OS X 10.7.5.
I have erase disk and reset the 2TB to factory default, after that, I cannot make it to connect to my Mac. Please help.

The 2TB Time Capsule needs to connect to your 3TB Time Capsule using a wired Ethernet connection.
Connect from a LAN <--> port on the 3 TB Time Capsule to the WAN "O" port on the 2 TB Time Capsule and configure the 2TB Time Capsule in Bridge Mode and turn off the wireless function on the device as well.
Once that is done, you can connect your Mac directly to the 2TB Time Capsule using another Ethernet cable, or your Mac can connect to the network using the normal wireless network, if you prefer.

HT201250 can a time capsule be used to backup in a different location, e.g., have it in your office but use it to back up your home computer as well?

can a time capsule be used to backup in a different location, eg, use it to back up your office computer but have it based at home in case of fire/theft at office location?

Welcome to Apple Communities
You can backup different Macs with it. Just set up the two computers to backup in it

How do I get Time Capsule to back up an external hard drive?

I need Time Capsule/Time Machine to back up my external hard drive. How do I do this?

The external drive is plugged into the Mac??
Just open the Time Machine preferences, Options, and include the external drive.. done!! (The menu is exclude.. so just ensure it is not excluded.. don't use no double negatives.. is grammar rule apple could learn).
You cannot backup the external drive if plugged into the TC directly.

Solutions for using jvc's new hard drive video cam

does anyone have any experience using jvc's new hard drive video camera (GZ-MG50U) with usb in puts on OS 10.3.9? any suggestions on software soltuions to edit captured video?

Just to give you a quick run down on what MPEG-2 is... it is a highly compressed format, meaning that the moment your footage was saved as an MPEG-2 file, information was thrown away. That's what compressors do, throw away redundant information such as color information. So technically, the image in MPEG-2 is not as good as if it were captured in DV... on the flipside of that, converting that DV footage into MPEG-2 would reduce the quality of the DV footage, so technically, you would be even at this point.
Where things get ugly is when you take that compressed footage and convert it into another format for editing. This process is lossless, but the file size bloats immensely in the process. Which means when you take that converted and edited footage and run it through the compressor again to convert it back into MPEG-2 so that you can burn it onto a DVD, it has lost still more information than the original footage that you shot. If you take any footage and run it through a compressor several times, it's like re-recording over the same VHS tape... each recompression reduces quality.
This is why you don't want a device to goes directly to MPEG-2, whether it be directly to a DVD disc or a hard drive. DV and HDV are both editable formats... yes you have to capture the footage and then convert it to MPEG-2, but you also have the opportunity to edit it along the way. Cameras that go straight to MPEG-2 assume that you don't intend to edit anything, just burn it to a disc and call it good... sort of like owning a disposable camera... you're buying the convenience of not having to do anything with it.

Changing a Time Capsule from use a backup device to use as an external hard drive

Hey there,
I bought my Time Capsule about a year ago and have been using it as a backup device through time machine. Now I would like to use it as an external hard drive.
I have tried to reset the device and to erase the data file but I still cant seem to get it to work as an external hard drive.
Could anyone tell me how to do this or what I am doing wrong please?
Thanks so much
Tuku

LaPastenague,
I've read a few threads and you've replied to several of these, so I imagine you're familiar with the Time Capsule (TC) and hopefully are able to help me solve my 2 problems:
1)access my TC files from the internet (TC at home, me at work, downloading a big file),
this didn't work: http://www.stratospherix.com/support/gsw_timecapsule.php?page=6remote
perhaps Bonjour would work but I can't find a good explanation anywhere
2)watch movies stored on my TC using my PS3 without using a MacBook or a PC.
Ideally I would use one of my android devices as a dedicated server but I don't know how to accomplish this and I'm afraid the file transfer rate would be too slow for movies once I get it running. Most Mac experts don't seem to work at all with android or Windows so an iphone or ipad solution is okay.
I have tools at my disposal: cable internet with dynamic IP but have a dynDNS account, 2TB TC new as of summer 2012 running latest firmware, iphone5, ipadmini, 2 android phones and an android GalaxyTab. For initial programming or setup purposes I have a Windows8 PC and a MacBookAir (but I want the computers to be off when I access my TC files in the future).
Please bear in mind I've read the related threads out there, perhaps not the right ones. I'm not a regular poster but I've spent so much time trying to figure it out I've become desperate. I'm trying to make the switch to Mac but the TC is making this difficult. I can't justify another purchase (eg Mac Mini) right now so I'd like to figure out how to make my $300 TC work for me at least as well as a non-Apple product that costs half as much. I appreciate your thoughtful response.

Is there a universal way to configure time capsule for use with magic jack plus?

I've got the magic jack plus connected to my time capsule. Works most of the time, but lately it's been dropping calls or I'll get error messages stating to check the internet connection. Most say its related to the router settings.

Note I do not own magic jack but it looks like a standard ATA voip adapter.
How is the TC setup in the network? ie is it bridged or main router.. Is there another router?
Being a non-apple product you will do better sticking with SMB compliant network names.. ie short no special characters no spaces.. Apple by default break these rules.
Also you may have port forwarding issues.. apple do not use upnp most windows and non-apple products will expect and so you might have to open the required ports not just for sip but the actual call RDP packets.
Even if you do open ports apple routers often break port forwarding. You might find it is easier to use a modem router or alternative standard router and bridge the TC.
Look at posts that deal with issues which will be common with airport extreme.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3662236?start=0&tstart=0
I would say it is not working because you have not forwarded the required ports.. or it just doesn't like Apple routers.. plugged into the Mac, the networking is handled by the Mac.. and is able to auto open ports.. non-apple products cannot generally do that.

Time Capsule for use as Backup? As hard drive? As paperweight?

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