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elroySF Author

Level 1

6 points

Time Capsule Powered Off, Won't Power Back On

My Time Capsule was running just fine, then spontaneously just powered off by itself. All the other devices in the power strip were fine and I tried switching outlets, plugging it directly into the wall, and unplugging the TC and plugging the power cord back in. The network port lights in the back are out and the light on the front is dark. However, when I first plugged the cable back into the TC, the network lights came on for a split second. I'm guessing that there's a power connection fried (because if it were a power supply failure the lights would not have blinked on at all).

Any suggestions? Thanks!

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 27, 2009 8:58 AM

1,343 replies

Sep 3, 2009 3:33 PM in response to elroySF

My Time Capsule (500GB), after my wife reported hearing a high pitched noise coming from the device, powered off and will not come back on.

Apple Inc. doesn't provide Applecare for individually bought TC so I bought another TC (1TB).

If it wasn't for AppleInsider's note about this problem being pervasive I would have continued to think I had got a lemon.

Let this not be Apple's Xbox!

elroySF Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 3, 2009 3:34 PM in response to TonyHoyle

Since Apple remains silent, I've reported this to the tech press. Hopefully someone will pick up the story and get Apple's attention. :-/

Sep 3, 2009 3:53 PM in response to elroySF

My TC also died last month, out of warranty dead power supply. Had it about 18 months.

I opened it up to get the hard drive out and put it into a case from Other World Computing. Saved all the data.

Sep 3, 2009 4:22 PM in response to elroySF

Similar story - my 1TB Time Capsule gave up the ghost two weeks ago. I removed the drive and plugged it into a NewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter from Amazon to rescue the data. The Time Capsule drive now lives in a Drobo and is working fine. Don't put it straight into a Drobo before getting the data off it though. Very disappointed in the Time Capsule. Everyone knows it runs hot but 14-18 months use for a $500 device is ridiculous.

lane3128

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2009 6:06 PM in response to elroySF

I did too that is why it was on Apple Insider today and the form views doubled since then. I also sent it to engadget, gizmodo, macrumors and arstechnica. So lets hope they put out a story as well.

Sep 3, 2009 7:00 PM in response to sasaldivar

Just to let everyone know, an updated step-by-step procedure has been posted by Revs per minute (aka La Pastenague)... and I was the one that recommended the Cisco power supply... should arrive shortly so I will post the steps to use it, but like it says in the tutorial, just short the ROF to RTN (GND)...

http://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems /TCRepair.pdf?attredirects=0

Sep 4, 2009 12:19 AM in response to elroySF

This story reminds me the "sudden death syndrom" of many Airport Express after 18 months of use, due to a small component in the power supply used over its acceptable temperature limit...

Sep 4, 2009 12:30 AM in response to elroySF

I had not picked up on this problem until this morning, but my TC (500; mid-2008) packed up two week ago. Brought it to the Apple reseller, who opened it and said it was the power supply. I had to buy a new TC (1TB), because my business cannot afford to be without backup. Not good though, only 14 months of life out of a pricey piece of equipment.

bauewern

Level 1

6 points

Sep 4, 2009 5:35 AM in response to Dirk Blink

Hi there,

Same problem here. March 2008 Time Capsule (1TB) turned its LED off in the mid of August and did not recover. After ripping it off and putting the HD into the MacPro, I knew, that it was not the HD, it must have been the power supply... Apple told me that the year is over and I just had bad luck. But it seems to me that more people had bad luck these days.

Cheers,
Werner

PhilWe

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2009 10:20 AM in response to elroySF

My 16 month old Time Capsule 500GB just died one week ago. It's the same issue which have been described in this thread. Seems to be a power supply problem.
I went to the Apple Store and they told me only that such **** happens. The offered me a Time Capsule 500 GB with only 90 days warranty for CHF 369.- in exchange for the old one. But since the new Time Capsule 1 GB is only CHF 379.- I didn't go with that lously deal.

Usually Apple stands for quality, but this **** should really not happen!!

@Steve.. do something! You owe us that!

lane3128

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2009 11:14 AM in response to elroySF

Common guys lets get the word out to all the gadget sites out there send them some emails. Apple won't fix this unless there is a big stink made of it. Oh and I recommend only opening it if you have to have the data now because even if apple decides to extend the warranty for defective units they won't replace it if it's been opened. This just ****** me off I'm out $300 after a year and a half and they just say oh well it happens. Yes it does happen especially when you put **** hardware in it and it bakes all day long.

elroySF Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 4, 2009 4:49 PM in response to lane3128

Let's keep up the pressure on them folks! We're finally getting the press to take notice!

Sep 5, 2009 3:34 AM in response to elroySF

My Time Capsule just died on me too. It was working great running the backups as usual and then I woke up the other day and saw that my iMac had no internet connection. I looked down at my Time Capsule and it had no power at all.

I took it into the Apple store and he told me it was out of warranty and would cost $419 to fix. I can by a brand new 1TB Time Capsule for $299. What is the problem with this scenario??? And now I find out it is defective hardware? I am quite upset. I just realize that for now on I have to buy Apple Care for every Product I ever get at Apple... kind of frustrating.

Sep 5, 2009 5:17 AM in response to Quintalis

I also bought my Time Capsule in March 2008 and it just died.

All things aside, I just really want to get my data off of it! Does anyone have instructions on how to pull the hard drive? Is there a way to get your data? I will never again use an Apple Hard DRive - I'm so disappointed!

What a waste of money.

Sep 5, 2009 6:54 AM in response to elroySF

EXACTLY the same problem, right down to the split-second network port blink. I am so annoyed and massively inconvenienced by this - just a month or two out of warranty too; it wasn't like the backup portion of the unit was getting regular heavy use either. Alot of important personal stuff is on there and there is no simple way of getting it fixed! Hope to hear something sensible from Apple on this as I imagine there are fewer emotive subjects than peoples backed-up personal data, especially when the Time Capsule solution was sold so much on reliability. NOT a happy bunny.

Time Capsule Powered Off, Won't Power Back On