Time Capsule vs External HD

I have Airport Extreme and need a new external hard drive.  Is Time Capsule a waste of my money since I already have the Airport?  What's a good external HD for my early '08 iMac running 10.7?

A TC is fully supported by Apple for TM backups, the Extreme with USB HDD is not. I personally am considering buying a TC or a NAS for backup over an external drive.
As for recommending a drive, Hitachi and Seagate have always worked well for me but LaCie often seem to be recommended.

Similar Messages

  • Please Help - Time Capsule and External hard drive Issues

    Recently, I switched from Comcast to AT&T uverse as my internet provider and I started experiencing problems.
    (1) I have a 4th generation Apple Time Capsule which I am using as my router.
    (2) Connected to the Apple Time Capsule - USB - is an external hard drive (not for backup with Time Machine.)
    (3) I have a 2011 Macbook pro which I use to access my file on my time capsule and external hard drive.
    (4) I had been using my AT&T portable Hotspot from my cell phone to get internet access on my MacBook pro from remote locations to gain access to my external hard drive which is attached to the time capsule.
    (5) On August 2, 2014, I switched from Comcast to AT&T and had the AT&T turn off the router function. (I have been using the router from my apple time capsule)
    (6) Under Network I switched to bridge mode.
    (7) And since August 2, 2014 my time capsule has not been backup.
    THE PROBLEM - I need to be able to use the hotspot function from my cell phone to gain access on the external hard drive using my MacBook Pro which I was able to do before. Now it is showing time capsule under finder but unable to connect.
    Do I need to reset my Time Capsule since I have a new service provider. Everything else works fine - meaning able to get internet signal but unable to access my external hard drive and backup my time capsule. Please HELP.

    (5) On August 2, 2014, I switched from Comcast to AT&T and had the AT&T turn off the router function. (I have been using the router from my apple time capsule)
    (6) Under Network I switched to bridge mode.
    (7) And since August 2, 2014 my time capsule has not been backup.
    If you got ATT to turn off router function in their modem..
    Then 6. is wrong.. You cannot have the Network switched to bridge mode..
    You must have it set to dhcp and nat.
    That is also why you cannot backup.. the TC is off the network.
    Please change back to router mode in the TC.
    Ensure the internet tab shows dhcp and you create a wireless network.
    Then power down the TC... power down the ATT modem.. wait about 20min (you can try 5min.. but it might not be long enough).
    Power up the ATT modem.. wait 2min for things to flash lights in de right blinkin order.. then start the TC.
    Open the airport utility and make sure your TC captured the public IP and is now working as the router.
    That should fix that end of it.. the hotspot end??
    Tell us what happens.

  • About time capsule and external hard disk

    I have got rMBP.  I also have got time capsule.  External WD hard disk is connected to time capsule.
    I have got 3 users in my rMBP:
    (1) Admin : Administrator
    (2) User A : I normally do all my work from this user.
    (3) User B: I recently added this new user.
    Here, using Finder tabs, User A can see time capsule and External WD hard disk.  But, Admin and User B cannot. I also want User B to have the ability to see WD hard disk (and time capsule).  For User B and Admin, time capsule does show up, but it shows as not connected.  How can I provide User B the ability to see External WD hard disk (since User B needs to store large different files there)?  Any permission issue on hard disk?
    (Amazingly backup does take place automatically even if I am connected as User B or Admin).
    I will appreciate your feedback.  Thanks.

    Emma1609 wrote:
    Hi,
    hi emma, and welcome to discussions
    Once the external HD is turned on my Time Capsule is not longer recognized. I can't connect to Time Capsule and make any backups. It is also no longer appearing in the Airport settings.
    you could try a power cycle on your devices. turn off modem, TC, and HD for, say, 10 minutes. turn the modem back on for 2 minutes, followed by the HD, followed by the TC.
    then go airport utility > manual setup > disks. see if your HD is showing beneath the TC

  • How to backup from Time Capsule to external HD?

    How to set up files backup from Time Capsule to external HD?
    Here is configuration: MacBook + MacAir + Time Capsule (which I use as a storage) + 2Tb WD MyPassport (USB connected to TimeCapsule)
    I keep files like photos on TimeCapsule to be available by WiFi and I want to set up my Time Machine to backup picture folder from TimeCapsule to MyPassport HD.

    Time Machine can't back up a network volume. You'll have to use third-party software. I don't have a specific recommendation. There is no efficient way at all to back up a Time Capsule, which is why it should only be used as a backup destination, not as a general-purpose file server.

  • Want to use Time Capsule as external hard drive / Time Capsule als externe Festplatte

    Can somebody tell me what steps I have to take to use my TC as an external hard drive? Thanks! / Kann mir jemand einmal genau erklären, wie ich meine Time Capsule als externe Festplatte für meine Fotos etc. nutzen kann? Mein 128 GB Mac Book Air kommt nämlich an seine Grenzen:) Brauche ich dafür eine weitere externe Festplatte oder kann ich den Speicherplatz nutzen, den die TC hat und auf dem im Moment immer die automatischen Bachups über Time Machine gespeichert werden? Danke!

    There might be a big improvement in the new photo app.
    The OS X Yosemite v10.10.3 update includes the new Photos app and improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.
    With Photos you can:
    Browse your photos by time and location in Moments, Collections, and Years views
    Navigate your library using convenient Photos, Shared, Albums, and Projects tabs
    Store all of your photos and videos in iCloud Photo Library in their original format and in full resolution
    Access your photos and videos stored in iCloud Photo Library from your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iCloud.com with your web browser
    Perfect your photos with powerful and easy-to-use editing tools that optimize with a single click or slider, or allow precise adjustments with detailed controls
    Create professional-quality photo books with simplified bookmaking tools, new Apple-designed themes, and new square book formats
    Purchase prints in new square and panoramic sizes
    It’s easy to upgrade your iPhoto library to Photos – just open the app to get started. To learn more about Photos, visit: https://www.apple.com/osx/photos/

  • How to backup MacBook Pro without AirPort Time Capsule or External hard drive

    How to backup MacBook Pro without AirPort Time Capsule or External hard drive

    This is crude but if you need a work around, just plug the USB drive directly into the iMac.. copy the files to it.. then plug it into the TC.
    You also do not need to use the TC as an intermediary between your iMac and MBP.. just turn on sharing in the computer.. so you can directly copy files from one to the other.. Macs have public access directory preconfigured for each user account.
    As far as mounting the TC..
    In finder use Go, Connect to server.. and type.
    AFP://TCname or TCipaddress
    Where TCname is the actual name of the TC.. I strongly recommend you follow SMB network rules.. ie if your TC has a name like
    Fred Blog's Time Capsule 2445566.
    It is too long.. it has spaces and it has non-alphanumeric characters.
    Shorten it to FredTC
    No spaces no characters that are NOT alphanumeric.
    TCIPaddress is simply the standard IP.
    You can also use CIFS://TCname which according to the article forces the connection back to SMB1 rather than SMB2 which as usual is broken.
    But I would definitely use AFP if possible. I cannot understand the decision to move to SMB as standard.

  • 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 storage and not for Time Machine?

    Can I use Time Capsule as external storage and not for Time Machine?
    I want to just use it like a USB drive but wirelessly and so other people in my suite can use it wirelessly to get the files I put on there. Let me know if you need me to explain some more

    Will the Time Capsule come with directions on how to set it up as external storage rather then time machine.
    Yes, AirPort Utility will walk you through the setup.
    Because when I watched the video on it it says that time machine is automatically recognized
    You have to turn Time Machine "On" for each Mac separately. By default, it is "Off". Leave it off if you do not want to use Time Machine.  If by some chance Time Machine is "On", then turn it "Off"

  • Time Capsule and External HD as Network Attached Storage

    I was wondering if I can
    a. Attached and external hard drive to my Time Capsule and access is wirelessly?
    b. Back up to that external hard drive using Time Machine?
    c. Access that external hard drive and Time Capsule from a remote place off site?
    Thanks

    a. Yes
    b. I think so. But why not just use the TCs hard disk for TM backups?
    c. Apparently so based on these instructions I have found: (Haven't tried it myself)
    In the Finder preferences check the box "show server" to mount to desktop.
    Under Airport Utility:
    Disks - check over wan and check file sharing and write down the ip address
    Under the Finder, use the GO function to find your server ie the hard drive on the TC. In the window provided type afp://ip address then password if applicable. The hard drive should mount and be shown on the desktop.

  • How to use old Time Capsule als external disk

    I just bought a new 3TB TC. I want to use the old one as an external disk and I also have some files on there I want to use. the new 3TBTC connected nicely, but the old TC on ethernet cable is not recognized by Mac Pro.
    How do i connect the old TC to Mac Pro to use as occasional external disk?
    thanx
    Frank

    Factory reset the old TC.. plug it by ethernet into the network.. straight into the new TC is the obvious place.
    The Mac should then be able to find it.. if not I can suggest how to do it manually in full isolation from the network.
    Airtport Utility can't find Airport Time Capsule on either of my 2009 Macs

  • Time Capsule as external hard-drive, as back-up drive with Time Machine

    Two questions today:
    I understand that I can use the Time Capsule as an external hard-drive while using it as my back-up location, using Time Machine. It has been suggested that to do this, it is best to partition the Time Capsule to prevent the TM program from confusing the files it manages, the data files from the backed-up files. (I hope I got that right.) I believe I read in this forum that one can partition the TC after the fact, and not destroy any data on it. Is this possible? A clerk at the Apple Store in San Francisco told me that I would want to partition, but that it would require that I erase the TC. Which to believe?
    Secondly, how does TM create the back-ups? I have used SuperDuper and appreciated the difference in how (and what) it backs up. My example: my first back-up involved having an 80gb external drive attached to my computer and TM backed up both my HD and the External Drive. I then turned off the TM. Today I turned it on and allowed it to back-up every hour as it is designed to do, but without the 80gb External drive attached. When I checked the newer back-ups, they all showed the original configuration of HD and 80gb external drive.
    So for it's incremental back-ups, does TM back up new files and updated files without deleting missing files? Is it an additive process? Or does it at some point delete missing files from it's most recent back-up? Or since it recognized that it was backing-up two different drives, it will always keep them separate, maintaining one (80gb External drive), even as it backs-up and changes the other (the HD)?
    O.K. a third request. Has anyone published a manual on TM and/or TC with this level of understanding so we can make the most of it's 1 TB storage capacity?
    Thanks in advance, LeRoy

    LeroyHoward wrote: So, does this mean that TM never deletes a file?
    It will when it starts to run out of space and it should likely be the oldest deleted files first.
    As I understand it, as long as I have a multi-linked file icon on the TM, I have the original data. And everytime the TM backs-up, it recreates every multi-linked file icon on the previous back-up. Right? So, if you delete a file by mistake, you can go back and find it. But I see a contradiction here. If you delete it on your desktop, shouldn't it be deleted from the back-up of that desktop? We expect it to be on earlier back-ups, but not the most recent one right? So, eventually as the TM fills up and begins deleting earlier back-ups, that data will be lost.
    The newest timeline will not point/display the deleted file(s), but it still exists on the backup until the backup drive fills up and needs to erase deleted data.
    I'm trying to understand this aspect of the TC and TM, because we want to use it as both an external HD and as one of our back-ups. Any light you can shed on this will be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks, LeRoy
    Read Glenn's response to dedicating TC to TM backup and the difficulty in partitioning the TC HDD.
    Glenn Carter wrote:
    However, this is not an option for Time Capsule users as there is not an easy way of partitioning the Time Capsules’ internal had disk without elaborate effort. In this case, use the Time Capsule hard disk solely for Time Machine backups. Then attach an additional hard disk to the Time Capsules USB port and store additional files there. This added disk will still be available to all Macs that can access the Time Capsule.
    This works to share the files on the USB HDD attached to TC, but if you want this drive backed up by TM (and this drive is formatted HFS+), then it needs to remain plugged into the Mac directly for TM to back it up.

  • How do I move time machine backup on filled time capsule to  external disk

    TIme machine backups from imac and mbp are currently on 1TB time capsule running out of space.
    I want to split the time capsule and move just the imac backups to a new external drive which I want to share with a new macbook air.
    The new external drive has been set up with mac OS extended with a GUID partition.
    THe instructions  on MAC 101: time machine Mac OS X v10.6: How to transfer your backups from your current hard drive to a new hard drive tell me to drag "backups.backupdb" to a new drive but I can't find it. I have just upgraded to Lion thinking I would find it now but it is still not there. Is this becaue I have both imac and mbp backups on the TIme capsule?  Here is a screen image of my DATA folder. Desktop  seems to be empty. A search for "backups" finds nothing.
    EVen if I found backups.backupdb I am not sure whether I should have the external drive connected to the time capsule or the imac to move this file. It will be kept as an external drive connected to the time capsule so I can use it for both the imac and the macbook air.
    And I am not sure whether I first need to set up the new drive as the time machine backup drive on the new macbook air or do it after I move the file.
    Thanks for any help you can give me.

    oops, I just found how to find backups.backupdb by myself, or at least with help from:
    Pondini's excellent resource.....Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions
    http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html
    See #18.
    I will  come back to this forum and update after I try what I have learned from the fantastic Pondini.

  • Time Capsule and External Drive Options

    I wanted to inquire if I can use my Time Capsule as an external drive. Reading some of the questions submitted I am still a little unclear. Here is my issue, I have a macbook pro and I am reaching my maximum capacity on my hard drive space. Most of the data is iMovie, Photos, and iTunes. Now I do not need all this data all the time, it just sits on my macbook pro as if it is being stored. I would like to move this to a external drive and I assumed the Time Capsule functions as a external drive. But reading all the posts in the communities it seems like that the Time Capsule can hold some space as an external drive but then if the TC starts to reach its maximum capacity it would delete the stored data. I am interested in doing the following, please guide me if this is possible:
    1) The videos/music/pictures that I do not need anymore but would like to archive it, can I store it on the Time Capsule and treat it like an external drive?
    2) I got a 2TB TC which I know only 250GB space would be utilized maximum by my MacBook Pro and the remaining space would be utilized for nothing. Unless for instance my Macbook backs up everyday to the TC and it stores 250GB each day then it would reach its maximum capacity on the TC really quickly and will delete the latest version of back up automatically. Is that true? Or does the TC only creates another back up of the changes found. I am just trying to figure out if I can somehow utilize the space on the TC for storage especially if I know that I probably wont have enough data for 2TB.
    3) What are my options if I want to store the data and want to retrieve it at my disposal. I just want to make more space on my MacBook Pro.
    4) What is the return policy on the TC if opened?
    Thank you

    But reading all the posts in the communities it seems like that the Time Capsule can hold some space as an external drive but then if the TC starts to reach its maximum capacity it would delete the stored data.
    When space is tight on the drive, Time Machine will automatically start to delete the oldest Time Machine backups to make room for newer backups.
    But, Time Machine will leave any regular files or folders that you might have stored on the drive untouched. Those files will never be deleted unless you delete them yourself.
    1) The videos/music/pictures that I do not need anymore but would like to archive it, can I store it on the Time Capsule and treat it like an external drive?
    If you move any files from your Mac, then the only copy of those files that you will have will be on the Time Capsule drive. You have no backups for these files, so you might want to think about this a bit. If your attitude is such that if the files are lost due to a Time Capsule drive problem, and it is of no great concern, that's one thing.
    If losing thes files would cause you grief, you would want to think about having a backup plan in place for the "original" files that you move to the Time Capsule drive. For some reason, users seem to forget that if they move a file from their Mac to another drive, they only have one copy of that file....unless they create backups manually.
    Unless for instance my Macbook backs up everyday to the TC and it stores 250GB each day then it would reach its maximum capacity on the TC really quickly and will delete the latest version of back up automatically. Is that true?
    Sounds like you are confused about how Time Machine works. The Time Machine application will back up everything on your Mac on the first backup. After that, it only backups up any changes that you make to the Mac. 
    If you do not anticipate making a a lot of changes or adding a lot of new data, your backups will remain very small. If on the other hand you regularly add a number of new large images from your camera, or new movies, Time Machine will be backing up each new set of images or movies that you add.
    3) What are my options if I want to store the data and want to retrieve it at my disposal. I just want to make more space on my MacBook Pro.
    You can move files from your Mac to the Time Capsule if you want to, as long as you remember that when you do this, you are moving the "original" files to the Time Capsule disk. You will have no backups in the evernt of a problem with the Time Capsule.
    It sounds a bit harsh....but the truth remains that all drives will fail.  If your Time Capsule fails , you lose the Time Machine backups, but you still have the "original" files on your Mac.
    If you move an "original" file off of your Mac to the Time Capsule and the Time Capsule fails....you have no backups of these files.
    The whole idea about a good backup plan is that you have "originals" on one drive and "backups" on another.....in case one drive fails, you still have a copy of everything.  Make sense?
    4) What is the return policy on the TC if opened?
    Best to ask the store that you buy from about their return policies in advance. We can't speak for any stores, or for Apple here.

  • 1st Gen Time Capsule and External Hard Drive Issues

    I have a 1st generation Time Capsule and have never had any luck connecting an external hard drive (both Western Digital MyBook and Seagate FreeAgent Pro) via an USB hub for an extended period. They will connect for a few hours or up to a day or two before they lose the connection and look up the wi-fi connection (although the internet and connected printer don't seem affected). Thought it might be an issue with the powered hub, but have same issue with both (Belkin and APC). I have read that others have had similar issues.
    For laughs, I connected a dinky personal drive (WD My Passpoert 750gb) to the USB hub and it came up instantly and had no issues for the 12+ hours it was connected. Question #1: can I run a portable drive for an extended period of time (weeks, months, years) via USB hub without killing it?
    Also, I would like to house my large iTunes and iPhoto libraries to be accessed by 3 different MacBooks. Question #2: is a NAS drive connected directly via ethernet to the TC is the best answer?
    I am spoiled by the simplicity of the plug-and-play connectivity of Apple products. Is there a mysterious sequence of procedures that I need to follow to get the Time Capsule to play well with the USB connected HDs?
    Thanks in advance for your help.

    To answer the general question, a drive that is constantly spinning is both more likely to be damaged and less likely to give issues of access to the USB.. the one fights the other. Feel the small passport drive and see if it is continually spinning.. if so that could account for it maintaining connection.. although according to your testing 12hrs is not long enough to know for sure. Feel the other drives. If they spin down and then when you try to access them, do they spin up? Or is it the spin down time that dictates the time they are available on the network. It may simply be a case of usb connected to a router is not getting the correct spin up info.
    IMHO a NAS is the right way to do this.. especially if you have multiple computers accessing it. USB is not a fast connection. Especially hanging off the TC series 1, were not renowned for speed. A NAS is not that expensive now and using a mirrored raid you at least have some protection. Remember to always have the source files in mulitple locations. A NAS can also work as an itunes server, which the TC cannot. And the connection from gigabit ethernet to sata is not made via usb.
    As a secondary option.. open your series 1 TC and put in a 2TB hdd.. this is well documented.. larger sizes give trouble but the series one can easily be updated to 2TB.. remember also the power supply in a series one can go at any moment. Get ready for it, plan for it.. one day it will happen.

  • Copying data to time capsule from external hard drive too slow....

    is there a way to make the transfer of data from a external hard drive that is plugged into the time capsule, transfer faster?
    im transfering 11gb and it says it will take 3 hours to complete.
    there must be a faster way to transfer all my data, in less time?
    thanks,

    If you are copying any important information to the TC directly (example: iTunes library, iPhoto library, Movies), please make sure that you implement a backup solution for these files. The Airport Utility has an Archive function which will backup the entire TC to an externally attached USB drive.
    For faster data transfer, you could try connecting your Mac to the TC with Gb Ethernet and than attach the external USB drive to your Mac. I would expect a Mac connected drive to transfer faster to the TC (faster than a USB drive connected to the TC) as the Mac has much more memory and compute power.
    You could connect the drive to your Mac and observe the transfer rate before waiting 3 hours on the other configuration.

  • 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.

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