I looked on the Apple site under storage and I no longer see time capsules available. What are you supposed to use now for backups that has wifi connectivity? I think I need to replace my 2TB flat top one as it several years old and will no longer do a daily back up of my macbook pro, although it works fine on my iMac.
I need at minimum a USB 3 drive that can be shared to two computers.
I looked on the Apple site under storage and I no longer see time capsules available.
The Time Capsule and other AirPort routers were discontinued by Apple a year ago, in April 2018.
Apple offers no information or advice about possible replacement products, but a number of users on this forum have noted that the higher end Asus routers and Synology router do offer products that will allow the user to connect a USB hard drive for Time Machine backups.
I think I need to replace my 2TB flat top one as it several years old and will no longer do a daily back up of my macbook pro, although it works fine on my iMac.
This is not a Time Capsule problem, it is a problem with communications between your MacBook Pro and Time Capsule or the actual backup file of the MacBook Pro. In other words, if the Time Capsule works with one Mac, it will work with another if the settings are correct on the Mac and the backup file has not become corrupted.
Not sure if you want to try to troubleshoot this issue or not.
However.....if you are saying that you have an older "flat" or "square" version of the Time Capsule that looks like a small white pizza box with rounded corners, then this product is at least 5 years old and likely older, so it is probably due for replacement soon.
If you could provide the model number of Time Capsule.......located on the bottom of the device, usually embedded in the foam pad base, we can tell you more about the age of your Time Capsule. The model number starts with an "A" followed by 4 numbers.......like "A1409" for example.
Hold down the Shift key while you click on the Time Machine clock icon
Select Back Up with Consistency Scan
If the backup will not complete, or you receive an error message, then your backup file for the MacBook Pro is most likely corrupted. If you want to continue to use the Time Capsule, delete the sparsebundle file for the MacBook Pro using the Finder and then try another new backup from scratch.
One thing I would like to able to do is get it to act as an wireless extension for the comcast wifi instead of setting up its own network. That way I would not have to change wifi connections just to make the backups. I have tried and it just errors out
Not sure if I understand what you are attempting to do here.
The Time Capsule cannot connect to a 3rd party router using only a wireless connection and "extend" or "repeat" the wireless signal. The Time Capsule could only do this wirelessly if your "main" router is also another Apple AirPort product.
However, if you can locate the Time Capsule in the remote area where you need more wireless coverage or range, and connect the Time Capsule back to your main router using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection, it is possible to configure the Time Capsule to use the exact same wireless network name and password that your "main" router is using. This way, you will have two "access points" for your network......and the network will have much greater range.
The rub here is that you have to run the Ethernet cable from the location where the Time Capsule will be installed back to the main router.
I don't recommend them, but some users have had success using Ethernet over power line adapters. These devices send an "Ethernet" signal over the existing AC power lines in your home. So the theory with these devices is that you already have the wiring in place, you just need the adapters.
Yes the A1409 is quote old and past its prime, but in defense of the little monster it has outlasted two of the tower 5.8 mhz models that I have purchased since. Neither of those lasted a year.
Will run the routine you provided and report back.
Thank you.
That was a no go. Also unable to delete the sparse bundle via the MacBook Pro, had to do it via the iMac. Could see it and select delete, but nothing happened.
And then went back to the MacBook Pro to start a new backup and it does the preparing and then nothing.
If it makes any difference I have X1 comcast so my wifi network is super strong.
Don't know what else it could be. Unless I somehow have a corrupted Time Machine application.
I would try an ethernet connection if my MacBook had the connection for it. That is how I have the iMac hooked up since they are right next to each other.
Don't know what else it could be. Unless I somehow have a corrupted Time Machine application.
While this might be possible, it would also be that be highly unusual. Unfortunately, Time Machine is a part of the Mac operating system, if the issue really is a messed up Time Machine application, you will be looking at reinstalling the operating system on the Mac again. That would be an absolute last resort.
Try deleting the Time Machine preference file, then restart your MacBook Pro and try to set up Time Machine again.
You can usually do this by opening up Macintosh HD on your Mac, then open the Preferences folder, then Library folder
Select only the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file and delete it, then restart the Mac and set up Time Machine again
I would try an ethernet connection if my MacBook had the connection for it
An Apple Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter is a mighty handy item to have in your desk drawer for times like this when you need a faster direct connection or you might be having WiFi problems.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD463LL/A/thunderbolt-to-gigabit-ethernet-adapter
I tried again and it is now doing a complete backup. Crossing fingers that it will do supplemental backups using TM Editor.
One thing I would like to able to do is get it to act as an wireless extension for the comcast wifi instead of setting up its own network. That way I would not have to change wifi connections just to make the backups. I have tried and it just errors out.
However, if you can locate the Time Capsule in the remote area where you need more wireless coverage or range, and connect the Time Capsule back to your main router using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection, it is possible to configure the Time Capsule to use the exact same wireless network name and password that your "main" router is using. This way, you will have two "access points" for your network......and the network will have much greater range.
The rub here is that you have to run the Ethernet cable from the location where the Time Capsule will be installed back to the main router.
I was not aware that you could do that. I will have to give that a try. BTW I don't need the TC for wifi coverage. My Comcast X1 is more than adequate. I just need the TC for backup.
Any special settings to do this?
I found your previous discussion on this https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6810610
My question is can the ethernet cable be connected to a router which is hooked up to the modem or does it need to be hooked directly to the modem? The comcast modem only has two ethernet ports and one is going to the netgear router.
Sorry, confused. You said previously that your Comcast X is more than adequate for WiFi coverage. It might be a modem, but it is also a router if it provides a WiFi network signal.
Right now, to what device is the Time Capsule connected? The Comcast modem/router or to the Netgear router?
Or, are you saying that the Comcast X is really a Netgear router?
Comcast modem and netgear router are two separate devices. I now have the TC hooked up the netgear router via ethernet cable. Nothing is otherwise connected to the TC.
After making the setting change you recommended I went to my laptop and was able to disconnect and reconnect to data. I started a backup which is now slowly backing up 347.81 GB of data one kb at a time. About 30 kb every 3 minutes. Hey but it is working. LOL
Always better if you can set up the first backup to occur over a direct Ethernet connection.
The Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter that I mentioned above will allow you to back up at a rate of about 35-40 GB per hour, so a 350 GB backup will take about 10 hours.
I never received a final report. It only said preparing verification and then eventually returned to showing the last update date.
It is working on my iMac though.
So the backup is complete now. Just waiting to see what happens subsequent backups.
Thank you so much for your help.
You are very welcome. Good luck!
Apple no longer selling time capsules?
