HT202174: How to verify or erase an AirPort Time Capsule disk

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iSteve82

Q: Erase an old Airport?

I need to erase my boss's old airport base station so it can be sold. 

 

1.)  Can I connect it directly to my MacBook Pro or PowerMac with an ethernet cable and then use Airport Utility?  (I'd rather not try to connect it to my wifi setup.)

1.a.) If so, do I need a specific ethernet cable? (I have a patch cable connecting the two.  Hers doesn't appear in my Airport utility.)

 

2.  Will hers need a "factory default reset" before I connect the two?

 

Her device:  Time Capsule 2TB Model A 1409

My machines: Mac Book Pro 15in, or  running El Capitan 10.11.6

                    or Mac Pro running El Capitan 10.11.6

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Steven

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Aug 19, 2016 3:09 AM

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Q: Erase an old Airport?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 19, 2016 3:21 AM in response to iSteve82
    Level 10 (270,319 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 19, 2016 3:21 AM in response to iSteve82
  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 19, 2016 1:57 PM in response to iSteve82
    Level 10 (105,008 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 19, 2016 1:57 PM in response to iSteve82

    Power up the Time Capsule for a few minutes

    Hold in the reset button for 7 to 8 seconds and release

    Allow a full minute for the Time Capsule to restart to a slow, blinking amber light status

     

    Connect an Ethernet cable from the Mac to one of the three LAN <--> Ethernet ports on the back of the Time Capsule

     

    Open AirPort Utility on the Mac   (Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility)

    Click on the File menu in the upper left corner of the screen

    Click Configure Other

    For IP Address, enter 10.0.1.1

    You should not need to enter a password, but if asked, use the word

    public

     

    Click the Disks tab at the top of the next window

    Click Erase Disk

    Choose the Zero Out Data option

    Click Erase

     

    The procedure will take on average, about 4-6 hours depending on the amount of data on the drive

  • by iSteve82,

    iSteve82 iSteve82 Aug 19, 2016 6:10 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 19, 2016 6:10 PM in response to Kappy

    Thank you, I've seen that.  It didn't work for me, or else I wouldn't have needed to post to the forum, but I appreciate your helpl.

  • by iSteve82,

    iSteve82 iSteve82 Aug 19, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 19, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks very much.  I'll give it a whirl.  I appreciate your reply.  Very best,ss