Retrieving data from an airport time capsule

When you mentioned that the Time Capsule appeared to be "dead", I took that to mean that there was no power to the device, so the Time Capsule really was "most sincerely dead".*

However, if there is still power to the unit, then one of the other Ethernet LAN ports might be working. In that case, the Time Capsule may only be "mostly dead". That's different from being "all dead" since "mostly dead is slightly alive".**

• The Wizard of Oz
• The Princess Bride

If the Time Capsule is dead or non operational, the only way that you can retrieve the data on the Time Capsule hard drive is to physically open it up and pull the hard drive out.

Then, connect the hard drive to a SATA to USB converter and connect it to your Mac.

No guarantees that this work or course, if the hard drive has been damaged, which is a real possibility.

Would help if we could get the model number of the Time Capsule.

As we noted in our last post, it would help if we could get a model number of the Time Capsule. If you cannot get that, tell us whether the Time Capsule is "tall" or "tower" shaped.....or.....whether the Time Capsule is "flat", like a small white pizza box.

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/AirPort+Time+Capsule+A1470+(Mini!)+Teardown/15067

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/AirPort+Extreme+A1521+Teardown/15044

The AirPort Extreme is the same product, except it does not have a hard drive inside. The article for the AirPort Extreme provides more details on the disassembly.

Check Amazon for a "SATA to USB adapter" About $25-35. I use the Sabrent product. Not sure if Apple will let us post links to Amazon. Try the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Lay-Flat-Docking-EC-DFLT/dp/B00LS5NFQ2/ref=sxin_7_ac_d_rm?ac_md=3-3-c2F0YSB0byB1c2IgZG9jaw%3D%3D-ac_d_rm&crid=2IU52JLZDLVUD&cv_ct_cx=sata+to+usb+adapter&dchild=1&keywords=sata+to+usb+adapter&pd_rd_i=B00LS5NFQ2&pd_rd_r=e7164955-609f-403f-bbc5-43f9b540245d&pd_rd_w=SulDv&pd_rd_wg=6V8RC&pf_rd_p=54ae11ea-870e-480b-a70f-1f4a57c2e311&pf_rd_r=BVM9N84X7N74164BHYSJ&psc=1&qid=1596399103&sprefix=sata+to+usb%2Caps%2C179&sr=1-4-12d4272d-8adb-4121-8624-135149aa9081

Unfortunately, Apple did not design the Time Capsule for service, so you will need to be extremely careful with this. If you are not a good do-it-yourself type, it would be a good idea to take the Time Capsule in to repair shop and have them pull the drive and copy the files over to another drive for you.

Are all the ethernet ports dead.. have a try at plugging directly to a computer using each port in turn. You will sometimes find ports not connected at the time of the surge survive.

Also wifi should survive.

When you power the TC on does it light up at all. Front LED flash and the ethernet lights should all flash at least once.

If it is completely dead then pull the drive.. this is not so easy but for a dead TC is not a big issue since you don't need to worry about damage to the TC plugs and sockets.

As Bob has commented if this is merely backups.. I would not worry over much about recovery .. just start a new backup to a new device and keep the disk in a draw for a few months to ensure nothing you need is going to need recovery.

I would also note if you do not encrypt the backup it is relatively easy for someone to access that backup.. so do remove the drive anyway just to prevent it falling into hands of the dishonest.

It is easy to copy data yourself .. just get a USB to SATA dock.. readily available and cheap.

Plug it into the Mac because it is Mac HFS+ formatted. And it is easy to copy the data from the drive to another location.

Good luck!

Frankly, unless you absolutely need the data on the drive and do not have another copy on a computer or another drive, I would not bother with this.

But, its' your call.