Can I use Time Capsule as a Hard Drive too?

Yes, you can. Note that having your backups on the same drive as the original data won't help when that drive fails.

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When it's available for use as a backup drive, check the boxes for network drives in the General and Sidebar tabs of the Finder's preferences.

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The best way is to create a disk image. Full instructions here.

http://pondini.org/TM/TCQ3.html

But you can create a folder directly through finder.. mount the data root file.. and create a new directory.. the disk image is better method.. TC as network drive will not allow partitioning so that is the best alternative.

Niel,

Forgive me, I am a total novice with my new to me iMac:

Niel wrote:

When it's available for use as a backup drive, check the boxes for network drives in the General and Sidebar tabs of the Finder's preferences.

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In particular, "When it's available for use as a backup drive..." does this mean you have to enable Time Machine? When I used your above walk-through, it mounted the drive for my iMac. Did I miss something?

I am trying to use my new 2TB Time Capsule simply as network storage for my media (i.e. Movies-in order to save space on my desktop). Plus, any walk throughs you could 'spell-out' or direct me to would be greatly appreciated.

Currently, I have Time Machine turned off and created the folder under Time Capsule>Data>MyMovies. So far it is copying the movies; however, with an hour left, will I be able to share this folder on the network? Is there anything that will cause this data to be erased short of me deleting the files from this location (such as background 'jobs' the Time Capsule may run in this folder)?

Also, does iTunes automatically copy media into an iTunes folder when I import into the iTunes Library from another folder? I ask, because I have an iMac with a 500 GB HDD, and the movie files aren't that big (2-3 GB's) and I am down to 60 GB left on my HDD.

Sincerely,

~

Joshua

P.S. I am digitizing my old VHS home movies and DVD's (that I own) and have deleted the folders containing the .VOB files and emptied the trash. I have a 1st gen Apple TV that I want to sync them with, but keep the original files accessable to any computer on the network via the Time Capsule. Does this make sense, or am I dreaming too big?

LaPastenague,

What will happen if you just create a folder inside Time Capsule>Data>MyMovies (without enabling Time Machine)? Can you still mount it as an external drive without having to partition it?

Sincerely,

~

Joshua

***UPDATE: I will give the link you provided a try, because, I think that might be what I am looking for! THANK YOU! I have about 20 minutes until the Movie files are copied to the above referenced folder, so I will try it when that completes!

Okay, I can figure out how to ammend my original post...but when I said "...it mounted the drive for my iMac..." I meant it just showed my iMac's HDD and not the one for the Time Capsule.

Sorry you need to give a bit more info..

If the hdd for the TC is not showing then you are probably using Lion.. which has fundamental network disorder.. FND..

Reboot the TC and often things magically appear again for a short time at least.

Using a TC as a storage location.. is not wise. They are not very solid and can die suddenly and without warning especially a Gen1.

If you must use it, at least backup your hard work to usb drive. Never trust one hard disk.. no matter where it is, no matter how wonderful the claims made about it.

Amen to that LaPastenague

Do not use as a Storage Device!!!!

LaPastenague (and AIO)

I am running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 (because last time I checked -- and it has been a while -- a software application I am using does not support Lion) and the TC is 4th generation, 2TB, Firmware Version 7.6.1.

My original thought was to eliminate some clutter on my physical desktop and my home office by reducing the amount of media I have lying around and number of attachments to my iMac (without having to install a new HDD --internal or external-- on the iMac). Your post and the one below it concerns me about the reliability of the TC. Are TC’s really that unreliable? If the HDD in the TC fails, can the HDD be replaced? Do I need to ghost the HDD on the TC incase it crashes?

Which would you recommend: upgrading the HDD on the iMac or just get an external HDD and hide it the best I can?

Also, some how I got the “Data” folder (from Time Capsule>Data) to show in the Finder pane; however, after the firmware update from 7.6 to 7.6.1 TC (or I) renamed the “Data” folder/partition to “Joshua’s Time Caps” (Time Capsule>Joshua’s Time Caps). Do you know how I can get rid of “grayed-out” “Data” in the Finder pane?

Sorry, I have had my iMac less than a year...but at least I finally got one 😉 I have a feeling I am going about this the wrong way!

Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,

~

Joshua

P.S. How to I give you stars for helping?

jsmnkcmo wrote:

LaPastenague (and AIO)

I am running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 (because last time I checked -- and it has been a while -- a software application I am using does not support Lion) and the TC is 4th generation, 2TB, Firmware Version 7.6.1.

Change the TC back to 7.5.2 it has far less issues than later firmware.

My original thought was to eliminate some clutter on my physical desktop and my home office by reducing the amount of media I have lying around and number of attachments to my iMac (without having to install a new HDD --internal or external-- on the iMac). Your post and the one below it concerns me about the reliability of the TC. Are TC’s really that unreliable? If the HDD in the TC fails, can the HDD be replaced? Do I need to ghost the HDD on the TC incase it crashes?

TC is designed as a wireless network backup for laptops.. more than anything that was the principle concern as people do not connect hard disk to a laptop and back them up.. so including it in the router was to help wireless users.. more than anyone or anything else. All devices die at some point.. if that is the only place your data is stored one day you will lose it.. bank on it.. now it is not likely to be tomorrow.. and it might not fail for 3years.. but you can easily corrupt it.. itunes and iphoto libraries should not be on network disks.. they can be on a media centre as a shared disk but really the TC is a device that is without backup.. if you corrupted it today .. when was the last time you backed it up.

The TC is a sealed unit.. You can open it and replace the disk.. Apple will deny warranty. If it breaks and you lose all your data in warranty.. apple will say or data or the TC .. take your pick. They will not help recover data.. they will offer a replacement at the cost of your original one. Thus ending its usefulness as a backup.. but you note if it was a backup then all the data is on disks elsewhere.

That is what Apple intends.. it is a backup not a file store.

Which would you recommend: upgrading the HDD on the iMac or just get an external HDD and hide it the best I can?

Whatever works for you. I think you can replace the DVD with a drive holder.. ?? I am not sure.. disk are hard to replace and expensive in iMac.. so hanging an external makes better sense. It can be a few feet/meters away.. Neatness.. is overrated.

I cannot see your screenshot and I don't know why it is greyed out.. Reset the TC and please don't use names with spaces or apostrophe in them..

jsmnkcmo:

Listen to LaPastenague.

My personal recomendation is not to trust the "easy / out of the box" solution (Now that it has failed me and costed a fortune). LaPastenague seems to have great knowledge, in this area, and I agree completely with his/her input.

You should not need a backup for your backup but breaking your storage needs into various hardware is great idea. "Why replace 3 things when only one goes bad?" If you read our other thread LaPastenague gave some good options, (could be complex to some - for setup) that is still the best option. Cost is about the same and setup a bit more tedious but far more reliable!

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3858514?answerId=18063039022#18063039022

Good luck

p.s. - Welcome to Apple and stick with it. Most of it is Great!

Can you expliain why TC should not be used as a storage device. I have backup service through Rackspace/Jungle Disk and I am happy with the speed for accessing files stored on the TC for editing, but I am interested to better understand your aprehension. Is there something I am missing?

If it is used a file store it has no automated backup method.. if you backup from a computer to another device.. you cannot use an apple product.. Time Machine doesn't work.

Apple chose the cheapest green wd available on the market to make the TC.. it is not a great disk.. they simply die or lose format fairly often.. I do repair TC and have had a few Gen 3 with dead boards and Gen 2-4 with dead WD drives.

See https://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modem s/apple-time-capsule-repair/new-issue-with-a1355-gen-3-tc

Apple consider the TC a sealed product.. no service no spares.. it is disposed of.. (reconditioned in cheap labour country actually to be resold).. no access to the hard disk. no help recover your data.. so although they claim you can use it as a wireless file store. they offer no data recovery and no help whatsoever.. and will at that point say it is a backup device not a file store..

The TC has proven less than spectacular reliability wise.. Apple tried to dodge the poor ventilation in the design and refused to help people with dead TC.. until the site deadtimecapsule.org got going.. then they extended warranty on the first 6 months of production although the design was unchanged for 2 years and there was no improvement until Gen 3..

Taking all the factors into account I consider it an unreliable destination as a file store.