Q: Apple airport firmware 7.7.7 broke my extended network

I would suggest starting from the beginning. Let's get the Time Capsule (TC) back "up and running." and then, add back your AirPort Express base stations to extend the TC's Wi-Fi range.

To start, let perform a "complete power recycle" of all of your networking hardware. Be sure to perform the "factory default" resets as called out by link provided. Once completed successfully, leave the Express base stations powered-off.

Next, use the AirPort Utility to set up and configure your TC as required. Verify that all of your networking clients can gain Internet access from the TC. If successful, bring all of the Express base stations into the same room as the TC. Again, using the AirPort Utility, configure (one-at-a-time) each Express base station to extend (via a wireless connection) the TC.

Once verified that each Express base station can successfully extend the TC's wireless, move the Express base stations to the desired locations.

Ok, so only the AirPort Extreme failed to update its firmware properly ... correct?

If so, as you can imagine there is always a possibility that something may go awry when updating firmware.

FWIW. The AirPort Utility checks http://apsu.apple.com/version.xml for firmware updates. When updating the device's firmware, both the base binary and a signature file are downloaded to your computer. The firmware update is verified before it is sent to the base station. It is verified again on the device, then unpacked and written to flash storage. The files, on your computer, are downloaded to : ~/Library/Application Support/Apple/AirPort/Firmware/

One option is to manually downgrade to an earlier version of firmware. Then, attempt to upgrade it again.

To manually download and install previous (earlier) versions of firmware...

• Open AirPort Utility.
• From AirPort Utility menu, hold the Option key and choose Check for Updates....
• Select (place a check mark beside) the version you require.
• Click Download.
• Select your base station then choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
• From the Base Station menu choose Upload Firmware....
• Select a firmware version and click OK.

Help - I have the same exact issue; however, my internet is now VERY SLOW and keeps disconnecting.... on top of my air port express not being seen. ;-(

I can't find the "Check For Updates" button and that location for firmware updates doesn't exist on my Mac.

Sorry, I need to update my notes to keep up with the changes.

Try these instructions instead:

To manually download and install previous (earlier) versions of firmware...

• Open AirPort Utility.
• Select the base station, and then, click on Edit.
• A new window will appear. Hold down the Option key and hover the mouse cursor over the firmware build number. The firmware version number should now be highlighted.
• While still holding down the Option key, click on highlighted number to see all the firmware versions that are available.
• Click on the one you want to downgrade to.
• A dialog box will pop-up to let you know that the base station will be unavailable during the downgrade process.
• Choose either "Continue" to continue with the downgrade OR choose "Cancel" if you decide not to.
• If you choose to continue, allow the firmware to be downloaded, installed, and for the base station to restart.

I suggest that you first try downgrading to an earlier version of firmware, and then, try upgrading it again. See the last post I provided the OP on how to perform the downgrade.

Thanks for your posts and hopefully you are fixed up soon.

Based on the few problems here, and the fixes that it provides, I think I will wait for awhile before upgrading.

I have had the same problem as discussed in the original post.  I updated both Base Station and Express today.  Base Station is up and running beautifully.  Express, by contrast, cannot be found.  Even when I try to reach it through "configure other ..." in Airport Utility, it will not connect.  Ridiculous.  I personally am not interested in long workarounds whereby I will have to downgrade, etc.  I want a fix that is as easy, from user point of view, as it was to install the "update" that broke my system.

Agreed. Appreciate the posters for raising the issue, and those that weighed in with solutions. Unfortunate for those having problems, and hopefully they can be resolved quickly. (I was apprehensive upon seeing the update notification, given the recent 'updates' and the subsequent issues I've had to work to resolve. Everything works fine at present on my current airport software, and I've lost all confidence in their updates to do anything but cause major issues across their entire product line.) Holding off as well. Please update when you know more.

I finally got my express connected to the network, not by doing anything fancy but simply by about an hour of (trying to be) patient re-trying and re-trying.

This was how it went:

hard reset on the express (stick pen tip into little depressed button until amber light blinks rapidly, then remove pen)

after a minute or so, the express shows up (with generic name) in Airport Utility under "other wifi devices" or whatever it's called.

click that device, and about 1/4th of the time it will succeed in connecting to the express and asking what you want to do with it.  select "restore previous settings" or whatever it's called.  looks like things are going well and then "waiting on [my name's] airport express" and then "unexpected failure please try again"

then usually had to do another hard reset so that it would recognize the express again.  hope that it recognizes the thing.  if it does, try to restore previous settings.

on about the 30th try it finally worked.  dumb and frustrating.

seems like the latest firmware upgrade is causing problems.

I Just upgraded my first generation 1Tb timecapsule to version 7.6.7 and my new 3Tb timecapsule to version 7.7.7

Both are wired to the isp's router and are extending the same network In my house.

Wifi was stable until the upgrade, but now connection is lost every few minutes, or seconds.

could it be that they need to be at the same version?

Is 7.7.7 available for the 1. Gen timecapsule?

Any ideas on what causes the problem?

Although your post is somewhat similar to that of the OP's the potential solution(s) may be different and I would strongly recommend that you start a new post to get the attention your issue deserves.

In the mean time to answer at least one of your questions. No, version 7.7.7 is not available for your 1G Time Capsule. Actually, it is only available for the newer 802.11ac models only. The latest for the 802.11n models, like yours, is 7.6.7.

Also, be aware that the 1G Time Capsules were problematic. Mostly power supply failures. The fact that yours is still working is a rarity... so you may want to take this into consideration as well.