Formatting Time Capsule on Windows for Mac bootable hard drive

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MLHargrave Author

Level 1

13 points

Formatting Time Capsule on Windows for Mac bootable hard drive

Hello, I have an iMac, i think its a late 2015, 21.5". The hard drive seems to be no good.

I would like to use my Time Capsule not as a WIFI router, but as an external hard drive to install MacOS onto.

I'm unsure of the TC model, size, etc.

Can I use a windows computer to format the TC to install MacOS onto and use as a bootable hard drive on the iMac?

I have no other Mac to be able to do this with, just a windows laptop.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Dec 15, 2024 6:46 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 15, 2024 8:03 AM in response to ToolTurtle

ToolTurtle wrote:

You could use the iMac as a monitor, ...

No. This is not a thing supported by Apple, and any third-party work-arounds are not suitable for anything more than text display. That is to say moving graphics - video - have excessive lag.

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Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

179,830 points

Dec 15, 2024 6:55 AM in response to MLHargrave

You might be able to format the drive to a Mac-compatible format - I've seen instructions that purport to be able to do that - but you cannot install macOS from a Windows system. You'll need access to a Mac to do that. And I don't think that you can install macOS on a Time Capsule and boot from it, though perhaps there's a workaround to accomplish that. But in any case, you need a Mac.

Regards.

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Answer 3

Dec 15, 2024 7:02 AM in response to MLHargrave

You could use the iMac as a monitor, (and possibly just get a newer computer.) ask for a recovery flash drive from someone near you, or take out the SSD (if it has one) and use a mounting enclosure, erase, and reformat it.

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Answer 4

MLHargrave Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 15, 2024 7:09 AM in response to varjak paw

I am (supposedly) able to reinstall MacOS on my iMac, but it wont let me install to the iMac HD, says something about S.M.A.R.T. issues which after Googling leads me to believe that the HD is no good.

I do have me the option install it to my My Passport for Mac, but it will erase everything on it and I don't want that.

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Answer 5

MLHargrave Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 15, 2024 7:12 AM in response to ToolTurtle

This is something I've thought of.

I don't know if I want to spend the kind of money that a new Mac would cost.

I don't have a problem going back to a windows computer, but if I can get the Mac up and running with what I already have, that would be best.

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

147,336 points

Dec 15, 2024 1:36 PM in response to MLHargrave

MLHargrave wrote:

Can I use a windows computer to format the TC to install MacOS onto and use as a bootable hard drive on the iMac?

No. Not unless you want to remove the hard disk drive from the TC, but that's more complicated than just purchasing an ordinary hard disk drive and installing it an enclosure. Simpler yet and probably less expensive is just to purchase an external USB hard disk drive.

A Mac cannot boot from a Time Capsule.

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Answer 7

dialabrain

Level 10

126,815 points

Dec 15, 2024 7:25 AM in response to MLHargrave

FWIW, you can get a SanDisk 1TB Portable SSD for around $100 from Amazon. You might want to try and install macOS on that and boot from it.

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Answer 8

Dec 23, 2024 6:57 PM in response to MLHargrave

You could create a partition that is just for macOS

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