HT201510: Setting up Time Capsule for the first time

Learn about Setting up Time Capsule for the first time
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pkfr
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Q: I have set up Time Capsule to use with Time Machine.  When I open Time Machine it 'cannot find' the Time Capsule and I have the Select the Disk each time.  In the Next Backup tab it always says "When disk is connected" even though the disk is already.

I have set up Time Capsule to use with Time Machine but when I open Time Machine it 'cannot find' the Time Capsule and I have to 'Select the Disk' each time. In the Next Backup tab it always says "When disk is connected" even though the disk is already connected.

Time Capsule, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Mar 15, 2012 4:38 AM

by LaPastenague,Solvedanswer
LaPastenague LaPastenague
Level 9 (52,991 points)
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A:

Your pro doesn't matter.. I presume it is happily working.

 

Your imac setup has got messed up because you changed from a local (my book being USB type I presume) to network drive. Did you do a clean install of Lion?

 

Did you use the backup from the Pro on the imac? Otherwise I don't see how the Pro shows up in use previous disk. Where is Pondini when you need him??

 

You cannot download Time Machine as an App and replace the current version. It is built into the OS.. the only way to do it is a clean install. Unfortunately that might be the only way around the issue.

 

There is a number of issues that Pondini has covered in the setup issues of troubleshooting.

 

This is the most relevant I think. http://pondini.org/TM/B6.html

 

But look at the whole section B setup problems.

http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

 

If it was me, I would store all the info you need.. not using TM but using a straight copy of files.

Then clean install Lion. I doubt any of these issues would exist if you had not installed Lion over existing setup or used a different backup.

 

See if you can get Pondini to respond.. !!

Posted on Mar 17, 2012 2:17 PM

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pkfr

Q: I have set up Time Capsule to use with Time Machine.  When I open Time Machine it 'cannot find' the Time Capsule and I have t ... more

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  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 15, 2012 5:12 AM in response to pkfr
    Level 9 (52,991 points)
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    Mar 15, 2012 5:12 AM in response to pkfr

    Welcome to Lion and its great networking..

     

    It has forgotten the name of the TC.. if you power cycle the TC normally it can remember it again.

     

    I suggest going back to 7.5.2 firmware.. doesn't fix it but keeps it going longer than other firmware..

     

    There are some other things that can help. But try that first.

  • by pkfr,

    pkfr pkfr Mar 17, 2012 2:46 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2012 2:46 AM in response to LaPastenague

    Hello and thank you for your reply.  I have tried the power cycle, and reopened the modems in turn and then the computer but my problem remains.  Here is a bit more detail:

     

    1.  The Time Capsule is actually working and doing hourly back ups etc, but it is NOT being found by Time Machine

     

    2.  When I hit the Time Machine to open on the iMac I receive a message "Your Time Machine backup disk can’t be found."  and I am asked to Set up Time Machine.  Then Time Machine Preferences opens  and in the 'Name' section is the name of my previous external hard drive "My Book".  I then Select Disk and choose the "Data" file from the Time Capsule and it does a back up. 

     

    3. So the question is how do I change the Name in the Time Machine Preferences, to always find the new Time Capsule which always appears when I hit the Select Disk tab in preferences. 

     

    4. On some occasions I have been given the option of "Use previous backup", which when I do I am taken into the Time Machine history with the hourly updates.  The problem then is then I am back to point 2 above with I next press on Time Machine on the iMac  ie it looks for the My Book. 

     

    5.  Yes I am using Version 6.0 of Airport Utility.  However, I do not know how to go back to the previous firmware version 7.5.2, but am not confident it would solve anything.

     

    Many thanks, and I hope you can help with my continued problem.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 17, 2012 2:56 AM in response to pkfr
    Level 9 (52,991 points)
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    Mar 17, 2012 2:56 AM in response to pkfr

     

    3. So the question is how do I change the Name in the Time Machine Preferences, to always find the new Time Capsule which always appears when I hit the Select Disk tab in preferences. 

     

    Do a full reset of Time Machine.. then redo the setup.

     

    http://pondini.org/TM/A4.html

     

    That might fix your other issues as well.

  • by pkfr,

    pkfr pkfr Mar 17, 2012 3:32 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2012 3:32 AM in response to LaPastenague

    Thank you.  I carefully followed the setup instructions.  The good news is that the the correct name is now showing in the Time Machine Preferences.

     

    However, I still have a problem with Time Machine in the Dock of the iMac.  I have deleted from the doc but when launched I still receive the message "Your Time Machine backup disk can’t be found." and I need to set up.  This means I cannot access the backups on the Time Capsule through the Time Machine application.  Also, I no longer seem to get the 'use previous backup' option. 

     

    Should I delete the time machine application and can I re download from apple?

  • by pkfr,

    pkfr pkfr Mar 17, 2012 4:12 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2012 4:12 AM in response to LaPastenague

    I have some further info/issues on this same problem.

     

    When I now launch Time Machine, I get an option to 'use previous disk' with the dialogue box heading 'The current Time Machine backup disk can‘t be found.'  When I click on 'Use Previous Disk' and select the time capsule, I am shown the usual time machine history of back ups. 

     

    How do I get Time Machine to launch immediately without having to reset the backup disk through Time Machine Preferences?

     

    Does it matter than I have a Macbook Pro also using the same Time Capsule as the iMac?  (it shows as a second disc in the Use Previous Disk tab?

     

    Many thanks

  • by LaPastenague,Solvedanswer

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 17, 2012 2:17 PM in response to pkfr
    Level 9 (52,991 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 17, 2012 2:17 PM in response to pkfr

    Your pro doesn't matter.. I presume it is happily working.

     

    Your imac setup has got messed up because you changed from a local (my book being USB type I presume) to network drive. Did you do a clean install of Lion?

     

    Did you use the backup from the Pro on the imac? Otherwise I don't see how the Pro shows up in use previous disk. Where is Pondini when you need him??

     

    You cannot download Time Machine as an App and replace the current version. It is built into the OS.. the only way to do it is a clean install. Unfortunately that might be the only way around the issue.

     

    There is a number of issues that Pondini has covered in the setup issues of troubleshooting.

     

    This is the most relevant I think. http://pondini.org/TM/B6.html

     

    But look at the whole section B setup problems.

    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

     

    If it was me, I would store all the info you need.. not using TM but using a straight copy of files.

    Then clean install Lion. I doubt any of these issues would exist if you had not installed Lion over existing setup or used a different backup.

     

    See if you can get Pondini to respond.. !!

  • by pkfr,

    pkfr pkfr Mar 17, 2012 10:04 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2012 10:04 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Thank you again.  Your comments are very helpful.  I'm afraid I just had no idea that putting in the time capsule after a previous external hard drive failed would create these issues.  Frustrating I know!  My experience with Apple product just plugging in has been very good until now!

     

    Couple of things:

     

    1.  The pro is working fine.

     

    2.  I was wrong to think I could see the pro, because the Pro was not used to be a backup. 

     

    3.  When I see into 'use previous disk' in Time Machine, it shows me two disks - one is named "current_nameXX iMac" on "Time Machine Backups".  And the second is called "Macintosh" on "Time Machine Backups".  I thought maybe the second disk was the Pro, but after reading your email, I realise it is not.  Is it the old USB MyBook external drive backup?  I guess?

     

    4.  I have read though the links you provided and am daunted at what is involved and don't want to mess around in Terminal etc.  I feel I should reinstall Lion. There is a full back up of the computer currently in the Time Capsule.  Should I leave the Time Capsule connected when I do the Lion reinstall in order to use it as a Back up.  When you say a 'straight copy' of the files, do you mean copy onto the Time Capsule as a hard drive.  I really don't know where to start. Obviously I don't want to lose all my photos, itunes, etc

  • by pkfr,

    pkfr pkfr Mar 17, 2012 11:45 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2012 11:45 PM in response to LaPastenague

    In an amazing breakthrough since my last message, after restarting everything again, the Time Machine on iMac is now finding the Time Capsule and seems to be working normally. 

     

    The old content of the Time Capsule is no longer there.  But a backup seems to have occurred.  Still seeing the two disks in the Time Capsule Data folder. 

     

    Should I reset the Time Capsule?

     

    Many thanks for solving this for me.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 18, 2012 2:22 AM in response to pkfr
    Level 9 (52,991 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 18, 2012 2:22 AM in response to pkfr

     

    Should I reset the Time Capsule?

     

    Many thanks for solving this for me.

    Reset will not change anything..

     

    I fixed it by... pointing you to excellent Pondini help files.. and some few thoughts around the edges..

     

    I think the whole way Lion has been introduced is flawed.. now I am not Mac expert... far from it.. but one thing we learned in the windows world was never ever do an install of the next version over the last one. Always do clean fresh installs.. By not providing media it has become much harder to do Lion installs.. partitions on hard disks and usb sticks notwithstanding.