Using time capsule to upgrade hard disk?

I'd like to swap out my original 500G Macbook Pro (early 2009) drive with a larger model. I am currently backing that drive up to a Time Capsule 802.11n (the 2G model released this past summer.)
What is the best way to use my time capsule to move everything off my old drive and onto my new one?
One thing I'm worried about is that the original full back-up of my 500G drive took DAYS over wireless. I use this computer a lot, so I'm wondering how long it will take to do a full restore. Would USB be faster then ethernet for this?
Or maybe I should skip restoring the backup and use super duper (which I own)? If so would I then have to do a new full backup from the larger drive?
Any hints and experience reports are welcome.
Also any opinions about HD brands to buy for my larger drive would also be great.

You'll be much better off connecting the USB drive to the MacBook Pro to do the transfer. It will be much faster, as the data will go from the TC to your Mac to the USB drive. See #18 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html]
If the drive is connected to the TC, the data will have to go from the TC to your Mac, back to the USB drive via the TC.
Or, you could use the "archive" feature to archive everything on the TC's internal HD to the USB drive, then delete the copy of the iMac's sparse bundle from it. See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1281
Or, just start Time Machine fresh on the USB drive connected to the TC. After a month or so (when you're sure you don't really need the old ones any more), delete the old sparse bundle. If you need them in the meantime, you can view and restore via the +*Browse . . .+* option, per #17 in the FAQ.

Similar Messages

Use time capsule as a hard disk for macbook air

I am running out of disk space on my macbook air.
If I buy a time capsule, can I use it as regular external storage as well as backing up the air?

Yes, but all the copies of a file you want to keep shouldn't be on only one drive, as it may fail at any time.
(76838)

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 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.

Using Time Capsule as external hard drive

Hi. I have a Mac Book Pro, and external hard drive, and now, a Time Capsule. Since I don't have a Mac, all photos and music (occasional backups, etc.) have been stored on the one external hard drive. I got the Time Capsule to replace the external hard drive as primary (keeping it as secondary)–in addition to using the Time Machine.
If I'm understanding correctly, I open finder, open Shared>AirPort>Data–and then drag and drop all the files currently on the external hard drive onto this window? Is this correct? Will it COPY, and be accessibe, and not cause problems?
Will it mean, as I hope it means, that my MacBook and iPad will be able to open and use iTunes and iPhoto through this AirPort? (Instead of having to plug-in the external drive.)
I'd love to use the Time Machine as well. But can hold off, continuing to back up only occassionally, since this dual purposing may not to be advised?
Thank you for your guidance.

Will there be a problem running Time Machine in the back ground while using the Time Capsule's internal hard drive manually?
No.
Thus far, instead of using Time Machine in an automated mode, I've turned it on when I want to make a new back-up. Will it be necessary to run Time Machine in manual mode only or can I use its automated feature?
Or–I may be seeing the light–will running the two in tandem allow me to save each new back-up on both devices simultaneously, keeping both drives up to date?
I would suggest that you consider changing your backup strategy. Time Machine was designed to be an automatic "run and forget" operation that performs incremental backups of your Mac's internal hard drive. It will also backup an external hard drive attached directly to your Mac. Running it manually is not very effecient and you stand the chance of not getting a very recent (they run once an hour) backup when you need it.
For Time Machine I would suggest that you continue to use your external hard drive as is and dedicate your new Time Capsule for Time Machine backups. If you still need more external storage, you can always add additional external USB hard drives to the USB port on the Time Capsule.
Even better you will also want to include a second "full-clone" method to your backup strategy. This method will make a full copy of your Mac's internal disk drive that is bootable. Why do this? In case your Mac has a fatal hard disk crash, you can use the clone backup to boot your Mac back up and continue to use it within seconds. Without the clone backup, you would first need to install a new drive, then load a fresh copy of OS X, and then, perform a restore from Time Machine. This can take a while.
To perform these clone backups, I would recommend that you get another external USB hard drive with a capacity at least twice that of your current internal drive. I use Western Digital My Passport drives for this purpose, but any similar drive should do. To create the clone backup I would suggest using either SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner.
I would suggest that you create a new clone backup at least once a month or more often if your data is critical to you. Just connect a dedicated clone drive to any available USB port on your Mac and run the clone software to make the clone backup.

Using Time Capsule as external hard drive on a PC, and beyond...

I need to achieve two separate things with my new 500GB TC. The first is to send it to a friend on the other side of the country for her to use Time Capsule with her PC as an external hard drive.
I then want to take those files (once sent back to me from CA), and put them on my computer. After that I just want to use Time Capsule with Time Machine, but I'm pretty sure I can figure that set-up out.
My question is, is this possible? And if so, what is the easiest process to tell my PC friend in order for her to connect Time Capsule as an external?
The reason I am attempting to do this is because I didn't see a need to buy an external and TC as well. The guy at the Mac store said it would be easy to do this, but I'm rather computer illiterate.
That being said, I apologize for my ignorance in regards to the use of Time Capsule, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Brody M. Nasse

Well, you just hook the Time Capsule up (either wirelessly or wired via ethernet) and for the PC you will want to install AirPort Utility, run it, and then she will be able to copy files to it. Then when it gets back to you you can run AirPort Utility (it is located in Applications/Utilities) and then access the files she put on your Time Capsule.

Time capsule as a hard disk

HI can I use my Time Capsule as a hard drive as well.
What I want to do is have two of use it as a hard drive like one that you plugin but share it wirelessly.
Can this do this?

Yes, you can just copy files to the TC.
Create a new directory in the root of the TC.. do not copy files to the sparsebundles created by TM.. if you are using it.
If you want to mix data and TM backups please do read the instructions.
Q3 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html

Can I use time capsule as an external disk only (not as a wireless router)

how can I use my time capsule as an external disk only. I have had problems with time capsule as a wifi router.

Sure.. but it is still a network drive and must use wireless or ethernet.. the best way is plugged into the main router in bridge mode.. but you can use it in secondary network.. although the setup is more complicated.
It is also less good than a simple external drive.. which is cheaper, faster and more reliable. Consider if the TC doesn't suit your needs get rid of it and opt for simple external drive.

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..

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

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/

Time Capsule dies when hard disk engages

I have an older-ish 500GB TC and for the last year or so it has been hit and miss on start up. After plugging and unplugging a few times it usually fires up. Now, I am unable to get it to fire up.
The issue seems to come from when the hard drive tries to spin. I can hear it. This has always been the problem. It seemed like the hard drive needed to warm up and after a few times it would and I'd be fine. Now, it goes black at the point of it trying to start up.
Is it 100% a hard drive issue? Why doesn't the wireless still work? Why does it go black?
To reconfirm:
I am able to plug it in and get a green light.
The light goes orange.
After a few seconds I can hear the hard drive (or something) try to spin or engage.
Then the light goes black.
Any help? Advice? I don't mind trying to rip it apart and stick a new hard drive in it. That's fine. I just want to make sure that is exactly what the problem is.
I know you geniuses can help me.

LaPastenague....who repairs many Time Capsules is our resident expert on this. Stay tuned for his response.
Yes,, Bob is right on .. as he is a pretty smart Mac user..
The hard disk is overwhelming the power supply at start up due to its high initialisation current. The power supply simply shuts down as it cannot provide enough current. It could also indicate a hard disk on the way out. The 500GB drives are finally starting to fall over. After 4years in the hot dark insides of the TC it is amazing they still go at all.
Your TC needs a replacement power supply.. I have done a number of articles about how to fix or replace it.
The economics of doing so are probably questionable.. it is really time for new one. They are cheaper than before, with dual band simultaneous wireless .. faster processor and much larger 2TB hard disk. So $300 for a new one, is not bad. (3TB is not good value IMHO).
https://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modem s/apple-time-capsule-repair
Actually your TC should be dead these 2years.. when most of them started failing.
Do an ebay search for Time Capsule power supplies.. there is a guy in HK selling new Gen1 Delta power supplies.. I don't know where he got them from.. but they are superior supplies cf the flextronics most of them use. He is selling for $50 which is cheaper than I can do refurbished ones. Apple themselves make no parts available.

Time capsule or external hard disk?

I am new to Mac. I read so much about the problem of using a Time Capsule. Is it safer or better to use a normal external hard disk instead?

chengpk wrote:
I am new to Mac. I read so much about the problem of using a Time Capsule.
don't believe everything you read. i'm using a TC for well over a year now and haven't had any problems. the setup is easy.
Is it safer or better to use a normal external hard disk instead?
time machine will, by default, run hourly backups. you'd have to have the external connected to your MBP all the time, rendering a mobile computer virtually immobile.
the initial (full) backup to a TC should be done using an ethernet connection, however, subsequent backups are incremental and can be done wirelessly (allowing you to use your mobile computer anywhere within range of your wireless network).
of course, time machine will also work well with an external HD connected to your MBP so ... you decide

Use time capsule as external hard drive

Hi, I'd like to know if can I use my time capsule as an external wi-fi hard drive, I just want to copy selected files to it, and call them when I need it, thanks!

OK.. I am going to do battle on this one.
The OP asked..
I'd like to know if can I use my time capsule as an external wi-fi hard drive, I just want to copy selected files to it, and call them when I need it, thanks!
I took the JUST seriously.. he just wants to use it for external wifi hard drive.. so how does he get internet and how is the TC connected into the mixture..
We cleared that up.. he then asked.
My question is, can I use that "hard drive" to save some info that I use frecuently (I'm a recording studio owner and I have a lot of recording sessions) So, I'd like to save it in my time capsule and call them whenever I want
Now if you were advising somebody for external storage of recording sessions.. as a studio owner.. ie this is a business and recording sessions are pretty valuable I imagine.. and pretty big.. would you in all honest recommend a Time Capsule..
You already stated you would not recommend it in business and then you want to fight me because I did not recommend it.. ???
He also said the files are used frecuently (sic).. and is the TC suitable for frequently used files.. each time you access the file the hard disk has to spin up.. as it is designed to spin down within a min of inactivity.. and that spin down cannot be reset.. because the TC is designed as a backup target for Time Machine not a NAS.. try it yourself.. open a file on a stopped TC and see how long it takes before the TC is ready to even respond.. and open the file. Many applications will toss up errors if they cannot open a file within a few seconds.. this will be a constant problem if directly using the files on the TC.

Use Time Capsule as a Hard Drive via Ethernet for Time Machine

Hi Folks
To summarise a very very long story here goes;
- About 12 months ago my father in law buys a Time Capsule without really knowing what it is for and how it works (I know don't ask!!!!!)
- I set it up for him connected to his wireless router so he uses his router to access the internet and uses the Time Capsule to back up his iMac via wireless with Time Machine. (from what I can see he could have saved himself some cash and just bought an external Hard Drive and connect it via USB to the iMac for Time Machine, but never mind. He has 1 iMac and no other Mac's in the household. His printer is connected to his iMac via USB in the same room and he uses a wireless router to access the internet, since the phone point is in another room)
- All is well until Monday when he tells me he cannot access the internet. After much much trial and error I have eventually managed to get his internet back up and running, but he has somehow managed to erase his Time Capsule.
- I set his Time Capsule back up as it was previously and it starts performing the initial backup again. However at the rate its taking I think it will take well in excess of 24hrs to do that initial
backup. Also so far It has failed 3 times during this initial backup and I get an error message stating it's failed. The setup guide makes reference to performing the initial backup via ethernet as it's quicker.
I'm thinking the best way forward would be to just plug the Time Capsule into the iMac via ethernet and use it purely as a Hard Drive for use with Time Machine. I've tried just plugging in the ethernet cable from the Time Capsule to the iMac, but it doesn't recognise it. Bear in mind that it currently works via wireless, do I need to perform some sort of factory reset or how do I go about telling the the iMac to no longer use the Time Capsule wireless, but just connect via ethernet instead.
Of course I could just forget about the Time Capsule all together and tell him to get a 500gb USB External Hard Drive, plug that in and set up Time Machine with that instead.
Am I missing the point here and can the Time Capsule do a lot more for him, given his current setup.
Thanks

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

Using time capsule to upgrade hard disk?

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