Time Capsule Powered Off, Won't Power Back On

Went to Apple Store today--they wouldn't replace it under the extended warranty; said it ended in February, 2011, the 3-year anniversary of my original purchase. They did offer to sell me a new 2TB Time Capsule for $229, the price of repairing the original.

I'm now debating:

1. Replace the TC at Apple Store--$229

2. Repair the TC ($60 DIY kit) and upgrade the HD ($75 for Western Digital 2TB)--$135

3. Replace the TC with an external drive or network storage device

Thoughts?

Mark Cohen2 wrote:

I'm now debating:

1. Replace the TC at Apple Store--$229

2. Repair the TC ($60 DIY kit) and upgrade the HD ($75 for Western Digital 2TB)--$135

3. Replace the TC with an external drive or network storage device

Thoughts?

I'm starting to think that buying any other NAS enabled device would be the best choice.

Yep. I try to replace it in a Authorized Reseller, and the try to make an exception with Apple, but Apple reject it (as they told me).

I'll try to repair it (by myself or finding a non authorized service provider)

But i'm a little upset and dissapointed that I couldn't get a replacement, just because the failure took 3 month more than the defined period.

A repaired TC will work fine, and it is going to make better use of original investment.. Plus you can recover your files if that is important. Even if you leave out the hard disk you can just use it as an airport extreme.

Screwed too today. Second one...my replacement died and Apple wouldn't replace as they use original purchase date as benchmark.....pretty angry

Daniel Davis wrote:

Screwed too today. Second one...my replacement died and Apple wouldn't replace as they use original purchase date as benchmark.....pretty angry

How long did the replacement last?

You can fix it with a replacement power supply or better yet using an external power supply like the cisco.. described here.

http://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems /apple-time-capsule-repair/cisco-adp-30rb-4pin-molex

The rest of it will be fine .. well in 99% of cases it is.

Just the power supply and somehow the replacement ones never seem as solid as the original which was pretty flakey to begin with. The approach to powering it internally with cooling is just wrong headed, directed by interior decorators with over sensitive hearing. You can build it without active cooling by using an external power supply. Or using an aluminium flutted top case with external antennas.. but not the way that Apple did it. Thick plastic and torturous path to convective cooling.

Did anyone figure out WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS! 18 months mine is DEAD

Yes, Julie--if you read thru the rest of this thread at all, you'll see many answers. Basically, the power supply internal to the Time Capsule overheats and burns out. It can either be repaired by replacing some internal components or replaced with a new, external power supply.

[Apple had an unannounced repair program (started in 2010) that basically extended the warranty to 3 years for some TCs purchased back in 2008 (specific range of serial numbers). They've just ended the program, as of the beginning of August '11, as it's now more than 3 years past the purchase date for those units.]

Other folks kindly provided links to repair options:

http://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems /apple-time-capsule-repairers

I reached out to Dale Mosher, who was extremely helpful with several affordable repair options.

The end of the extended warranty is really just the end of a pretend system.. as the extension was bought in too late to save loads of people with dead TC already disposed of. And it covered merely 6months worth of production which was never fixed in series1 which went for another 6months and then pops up continually on all the later editions as they get to 2years old.

Another dead Time Capsule here, bought in May 2009, 500GB, S/N XX913.

I can't believe how many people are having the same problem. I've got an idea for Apple and it's huge heap of money: fix the design of the Time Capsule and replace our broken products!

Since I started using Backblaze (online backup service, http://www.backblaze.com/) I wasn't using the Time Capsule as a backup device anymore. Only as a WiFi-station. Having it repaired (and the cooling improved) would cost me €125. I'm still too frustrated to be spending that kind of money though.

I'm now using the WiFi functionality of my ZyXEL router. That ***** though, weak signal and way too unstable. I tried using the WiFi functionality of my Mac mini, but that signal is even worse.

Well, there are certainly a lot of <edited by hosts> appearing here so Apple sure is watching.

They may be watching but only so they can take out the nasty comments.

My TC died a month ago, 18 months to day that I bought it.

Apple will not repair as it is a non repairable unit?

Now I have had a problem with my iMac, my iPhone, my MacBookPro and Time Capsule. For the money it just is not worth it. Has been an expensive lesson.

Mine has just died on me, need to go and check the date of purchase but it's only been about a year, not happy!

I have just found the receipt I purchased the unit September 18th 2009 so just under 2 years old. Not very impressed to be honest as these don't come cheap, not the best back up if they are only going to last a few years at the most!

Mine broke over the weekend. a little over 25 months of use. not happy.