Time Capsule is an excellent, albeit rather expensive, paperweight!

A quick scan through the discussion pages shows that Time Capsule ain't much use.
I have a broadband internet connection to which my iMac is attached by ethernet cable. It works fine. My iBook connects to the internet wirelessly and that works fine. So I have a little network.
Seduced by the elegance of the Time Capsule and its accompanying cant, I went out and bought one. Three or four hours later, there was no way in which it could be tempted to connect to the iMac wirelessly. In other words, it just did not want to be part of my little network. However, when I joined it up with an ethernet cable, I could get Time Machine to fly and it is backing up my iMac.
I felt that I had done enough for that day and so went to bed.
Today, I am trying to get my iBook to find the bloody thing wirelessly so it too can join in all the fun. Airport Utility spins round and round and says that there are no Apple Wireless devices to be found and it invited me to re-scan. Which I do, balls achingly often. The result remains the same: no device can be found. In desperation I brought the laptop to within a couple of inches of the Time Capsule but it made not a skerrit of difference.
I am highly unimpressed with this device: it just does not work as advertised! I should add that the first one I bought a few days ago started to make a noise like a plane about to take off and I was obliged to take it back to the store.
i do not seem to be alone in finding that these machines are just too sexy for their shirts.
What next?
David Amies

I was having the same problem you were David. I'm going through the non-stop rescan button pushing.
When I got Time Capsule it worked great, now all of a sudden it has a problem seeing my wireless network. I have 2 computers, MacBook Pro running 10.5.4, and 8 core dual gig 10.5.4. My MacBook sees our wireless network just fine. My tower doesn't see a darn thing. NADA! Neither does my Time Capsule, even though all three computers are sitting within 2 feet of each other with the Time Capsule literally sitting right on top of the tower.
Scanned and rescanned to no avail. Finally, after restarting the Time Capsule from the back where the tiny little restart button is, my 8 core sees the time capsule but the time capsule doesn't see the wireless internet network, and the laptop sees the wireless internet, but not the time capsule. I am going crazy!
And yeah - sleep prevails. Calling support tomorrow. Either that or I'm taking the paper weight back to Apple. I have never had so many issues with Apple products not working like they should - right out of the box. I've been using Apple Computers since 1995 and have never had issues like this. It's really frustrating because I know the ideas are great, but it's all just been kind of lazy lately. I don't know what to do.

Similar Messages

  • Recovering data from Time Capsule after conversion from Snow Leopard to Lion

    Had a problem with my iMac, which was running Snow Leopard O/S.  Data was backed up on Time Capsule using Time Machine, although recent back-ups had failed (but earlier back-ups had been OK).  Apple support determined that I needed to re-install the O/S and they walked me through it.  After blowing away all data (believing that once O/S reinstalled, could recover from Time Capsule), the reinstall failed.  Took to Apple store, where they installed Lion at my request.  Then tried to recover from Time Capsule, but couldn't do so.  Sparse file doesn't work (it shows 10GB, which is wrong as it had several hundred GB's before due to lots of photos).  Apple Support couldn't solve issue, believes it was corrupted with the last backup.  Ultimately recommended that I have professional data recovery service recover data from the iMac hard-drive (as opposed to Time Capsule).  Spoke to recovery service recommended by Apple, and it is very expensive (also, given the O/S reinstall, anything they recover will have new file names and no directory structure).  They also said getting data off the Time Capsule is even more difficult and expensive to recover.  I'm not a happy camper. 
    I would welcome any thoughts on what to do.  FWIW, I live in South Florida and there appear to be lots of data recovery companies locally, but Apple support had said that they have only a few authorized vendors that can do it without voiding warranty, so I'm reluctant to even call them.  Thanks.  Steve

    Your backups may be corrupted.
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    Mount the sparse bundle by opening the TC in the Finder and double-clicking on the sparse bundle. Drag the sparse bundle into Disk Utility's sidebar, and do a +*Repair Disk*+ (not permissions) on it. If it finds errors it can't fix, run it again (and again), until it either fixes them all, or can't fix any more.

  • Time Capsule as HD for Bootcamp?

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    Load the airport utility for windows.
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  • Time Capsule and Powerline Adaptors - Internet periodically freezing

    Hi all,
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    Powerline adapters are not ethernet cables.. they have their own issues.
    Test the setup by plugging a laptop/nearby computer into the powerline adapter and see if you have issues at all. Load it up since the TC is going to run it fairly hard with multiple computers connected.. ie Run a few downloads and do browsing etc at the same time.. check the actual speed of the link and how stable it is.
    If it is fine, then the issue is the TC.
    Alternatively just get another router, eg TP-Link WDR3600 which is only about $70-80. Borrow one from a friend. If that has no problems then you can pretty well say the issue is TC.
    In that case we need to know exactly which TC running exactly which firmware. This issue is well known in the later AC model.. it is caused by some issue with the WAN port not holding the line correctly. You may need to do a bit of work on it and sadly apple have removed logging and lots of abilities from the TC so it is now pretty hard to do any realistic testing. Hence if the new router works.. keep it and set the TC as a Wireless AP.

  • Time Capsule will only allow Apple products to connect to internet, PC ad PS3 shows excellent signal from TC but won't allow connection.

    I have a Mac, iPad, iPhone and several iPod touch devices that can connect to the internet through Time Capsule without a problem.  There are times when my work PC and PS3 won't connect to the internet through TC.  There doesn't seem to be any reason why this happens and it just started happening in the last month.  The PC indicates an excellent wireless connection.  If you have any suggestions please put it in very easy to understand terms (I'm not a very technical person).

    Ok.. that is very helpful. What OS is your Mac running?
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    But it looks like it is bridged.
    Open the utility and click on manual setup.
    Take a screenshot of the summary page.
    Take a screenshot of the internet tab.
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    And DHCP
    Yours will look different to mine.. but there is nothing in them that is needing to be hidden.. it is useless info to another person. I post mine to show it is useless in case it worries you.
    I do need some more info.
    What is the modem you have? Is it also a wifi router. In the list of wireless you took the snapshots of, you have several wireless names.. I want to know which of those are yours??
    The WEP security device is a problem. It is old and near useless.. if you don't own it that is fine.. but if it is yours get rid of it. 
    Can your PC and PS3 connect to the internet via some other wireless?
    It looks like you might be able to simply bypass the TC to connect the PC.
    Sometimes it is easier to solve this problem by using different hardware.. and a secondary wireless AP can easily be plugged into a modem router if that is what you have to provide wireless just for your PC devices.
    What model is your TC.. ?
    Please look at the bottom rubber mat.. there is a number in the top line of the rubber molding.. It will say A1254 or A1302 or A1355 .. those are the numbers for Gen1 , 2 and 3. Gen4 it is on the paper label.. where it always should have been A1409. Please tell me that number.

  • I am trying to update my time machine backup on time capsule, but time machine keeps trying to create an entirely new backup (evidenced by the 200GB backup size). How can I get time machine to modify my old backup rather than create a new one?

    I am trying to update my time machine backup on time capsule, but time machine keeps trying to create an entirely new backup (evidenced by the 200GB backup size). How can I get time machine to modify my old backup rather than create a new one?

    It must have found the old backup corrupt.. so you will more than likely have little choice. You can archive off the old backup if it is still useful.
    You can also verify it. See A5 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    He also has some info on this problem. eg C13.

  • Time Capsule Dual: Working with Excel files in Windows Computer

    We just purchased the latest-gen Time Capsule to replace another earlier edition TC and we are having a strange problem. We have three iMacs and one PowerBook G4 connected wirelessly to the TC, along with two Windows XP machines which are wired in to the TC. The issue is that the two WinXP machines cannot view Excel files from the TC. When they try to open and work with an Excel file from the TC, they get a message that there is not enough memory to open, work with, or save any Excel files and it won't let them open the Excel file at all. If they copy the file from the TC to the local WinXP computer, they can open it and work on it just fine. At first I thought the issue would be with the new TC, but I plugged back the old TC and it has the exact same problem. The only commonality between the two is that I foolishly updated the firmware on both to 7.4.1. The old TC was working just fine until I installed 7.4.1, and then it started to have the same problem handling the Excel files.
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    Same happened to me a while back when i updated the firmware 7.4.1 . the macs were ok but the Windows PC's sharing the Time capsule would not save any excel files as errors like memory too low
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    Cheers ian

  • Had an Excel file in the dock. When I restarted  computer a question mark appeared in the dock. I can't find the file. Where can I find what was in the dock on my Time Capsule

    I had an Excel file icon in my Dock on the compter. When I restarted my computer a Question mark appeared where the file icon was located in the dock. I need to find that file. I can't locate it either on my computer or on the Time Capsule . Anyone have any thoughts where the actual file may be located?

    Sorry, you lost me.
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  • Force 802.11ac Connection To Time Capsule Rather Than Airport Express

    I have a new Time Capsule and a new retina Macbook Pro, both with 802.11ac.
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    Click OK
    Click Apply
    Close the windows
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  • Hi I've recenty purchased a new imac   time capsule   airport express.   I've set up a new network, rather than extended the current one. How do I change my new network to an extended one or create an extended network?

    Hi I've recenty purchased a new imac + time capsule + airport express.
    I've set up a new network, rather than extended the current one. How do I change my new network to an extended one or create an extended network?
    Michael

    detailed in terms of what focus?
    here is a video guide about using the airport utility
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Jv6m43eIE

  • Airport time capsule 2 TB. All is connected and Wi-Fi is working but light still flashes amber rather than solid green. I have tried to reset but this still happens. Is there a way to fix this or do I need to?

    Airport time capsule 2 TB. All is connected and Wi-Fi is working but light still flashes amber rather than solid green. I have tried to reset but this still happens. Is there a way to fix this or do I need to?

    You want to see a green light on the Time Capsule.
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  • HT1175 how do you set the airport time capsule as the primary base station rather than as a network client?

    how do you set the airport time capsule as the primary base station rather than as a network client?

    The Time Capsule needs to connect to a simple modem......not a modem/router or gateway type of device that is often furnished by Internet Service Providers.
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  • Lost connection between airport time capsule and extreme, can't get extreme back in network, says connection excellent

    I have 2 terabyte Time capsule, last gen, not newest.  I have a similar airport extreme to extend my network.  I was running Lion.  I upgraded to Maverick to see if it would fix this problem, and it did not.  When using airport utility, latest version, it says that the extreme has an excellent connection, but fails to extend the network. This started the last time I upgraded Lion.  I have tried rebooting, renaming the extreme to no avail.  I moved it to the same room as the time capsule, no luck.

    Hello Thomas,
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    Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
    Cheers,
    Allen

  • Time Capsule and G5 iMac - excellent (once Norton Anti-Virus is turned off)

    Set up my new 1 TB Time Capsule last night and connected it via ethernet to my G5 iMac (currently TC only in bridge mode to my existing router - but I wll configure the TC as a router and remove my Cisco WAG 54 G tonight).
    Worked stright away but VERY slow (i.e: 1 GB per hour transfer)...
    Checked the forum and discovered that someone had suggested turning off your anti virus before running Time Machine.
    Turned off Norton 10 (I have been meaning to remove this for sometime anyway - it is huge, cumbersome and ***** resources out of my G5.).
    Time Machine then ran beautifully. Backed up 200 Gb to the TC overnight. The TC wasn't particularly warm to the touch either while it was backing up (I had also configured it for 802.11.n 5GZ wireless). Thought it would actually be quite warm.
    Also - nice Gbit switching between my iMac G5 and PS3 (I'm currently serving up content from my iMac to PS3 using a DLNA server software from ELgato - EyeConnect. This also ran much faster (previous Cisco router/switch was only 100 Mbit).
    VERY impressed Apple.
    Now - let's see how well the TC performs tonight as a router with Port Forwarding....
    cheers
    Steve

    Set up my new 1 TB Time Capsule last night and connected it via ethernet to my G5 iMac (currently TC only in bridge mode to my existing router - but I wll configure the TC as a router and remove my Cisco WAG 54 G tonight).
    Worked stright away but VERY slow (i.e: 1 GB per hour transfer)...
    Checked the forum and discovered that someone had suggested turning off your anti virus before running Time Machine.
    Turned off Norton 10 (I have been meaning to remove this for sometime anyway - it is huge, cumbersome and ***** resources out of my G5.).
    Time Machine then ran beautifully. Backed up 200 Gb to the TC overnight. The TC wasn't particularly warm to the touch either while it was backing up (I had also configured it for 802.11.n 5GZ wireless). Thought it would actually be quite warm.
    Also - nice Gbit switching between my iMac G5 and PS3 (I'm currently serving up content from my iMac to PS3 using a DLNA server software from ELgato - EyeConnect. This also ran much faster (previous Cisco router/switch was only 100 Mbit).
    VERY impressed Apple.
    Now - let's see how well the TC performs tonight as a router with Port Forwarding....
    cheers
    Steve

  • Possible to simultaneously use time capsule for backup + another router for internet?

    I will soon be moving into an apartment in which my landlord provides wireless internet through her own router.
    I also have my own Time Capsule, which I'd like to continue to use to back up my Mac via Time Machine.
    Is it possible to connect to both my Time Capsule (for backup only) and another router (for internet only) at the same time?
    If not, can anyone suggest a good workaround?

    moskovit wrote:
    I've done a little research, and it looks like I might be able to wirelessly daisy chain the two routers, using WDS (wireless distribution system), assuming my landlord's router supports it, but that this would drop the speed of the internet significantly: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2623802?start=0&tstart=0
    It works extremely poorly and the landlord would need to agree to it.. plus it would require use of WEP security which is hackable by children with internet hack kits in about 2min flat. Don't go there. Apple have made their products incompatible with most other routers. So any suggestion of a workaround will involve spending some money on your part.
    You could buy a airport express and plug that into the main router by ethernet.. again if allowed. Your TC can do wireless bridge to another apple product very well. Messy but could work. It is not that expensive to get a second hand AEBS and use that. You don't need the latest products but wireless range would be better in the AEBS than AE.
    So I'm still wondering: Is there another workaround?  Is there a way to get my mac to connect to my time capsule (for backup) and another router (for internet) simultaneously, or is that just technologically impossible?  If it's impossible, is there another solution?
    You cannot wirelessly connect to two different wireless devices at once on one client. You need to either have a second wireless client in the laptop.. for instance a USB stick which can be fairly tiny nowadays. It is just you need to find one with Mac drivers. Or the TC must have internet connectivity. You could get that by buying a wireless bridge, and using that in your room, with the TC plugged into it. Universal wireless bridge devices are fairly cheap, but can be a pain to setup. Look for products that work with the main router and use as fast a speed as possible. It can be a tricky setup as you need the wireless bridge working on one channel and the TC working on another. What I am suggesting is the WDS solution you found but using two different boxes to do it. And not using WDS at all, unless the main router is suitable, but rather universal bridge.
    The hassle of all that suggests to me,, I would go for the wireless stick, so your Mac laptop has two wireless clients.
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/iMAC-MAC-Apple-Airport-G3-G4-G5-OS-X-USB-WIRELESS-CAR D-/290538112833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a56bc741
    I have no idea if this works just to show you what I mean. Please do research it yourself.
    An ethernet connection to the TC is far superior solution albeit would require you to plug and unplug it.

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