Ok. So the original Hard Drive is Dead. I have a 640 GB 2.5 Laptop Hard Drive lying around.
My question is, Can I put the 2.5 HD in the Time Capsule instead of a 3.5 HD Repacement?
Running Mountain Lion on iMac. Thanks in Advance!
iMac 27" 3.06 GHz. ATI 4670 4GB 1TB, Mac OS X (10.6.6)
How old is the Time Capsule? Any chance that Apple might replace the dead drive for free? If you happen to have any apple products that are still covered under Apple Care - that coverage would most likely extend to the Time Capsule. Even an apple TV with an active apple care plan - would cover the Time Capsule. There are some caveats to the time lines when different items were purchased as to whether the Time Capsule is covered or not.
If there is any chance that Apple will fix it for free - or for some reasonable charge - then I would go that route first. If that does not work out - then I would consider opening up the time capsule and trying to replace the drive. You can google "replace hard drive in time capsule" and find many suggestions for doing this.
I would not recommend trying to use a drive with the incorrect form factor size as that may cause some problems. Considering the relatively low cost of multi-terabyte drives - I can't see wasting time with a 640 gig drive.
If your time capsule is a critical part of your system - then it may just be best to go buy a new one and be done with it - since in the end you may end up spending more in time and effort in your attempt to replace the dead drive in the existing time capsule.
No. It's the old one. No warranty. I have already opened it & put in a temporary small 3.5 Hard Drive & it's working well with the hard drive. I was just curious if in fact it could be done & would it work. Your right though. I could buy a 1 TB 3.5 which are very inexpensive.
You could try a 3.5" to 2.5" drive adapter - that would allow you to properly mount the 2.5" drive inside the time capsule. In the quick googling that I did - there were several posts mentioning the importance of being sure to re-attach the temperature sensor to the replacement drive. I just thought I would mention that - as it seemed important. Just out of curiosity - were you able to get the time capsule open without damaging the case or the top?
SBeattie2 wrote:
You could try a 3.5" to 2.5" drive adapter - that would allow you to properly mount the 2.5" drive inside the time capsule.
Actually the 2.5" still needs to sit right next to the hard drive frame.. as the cables will not stretch very far.. but the 2.5" works fine in the TC.. and it is simple since sata connectors are now common across 2.5" and 3.5" drives.
The actual disassembly of the TC see here.. you come in from the bottom.
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Apple_Time_Capsule
The temperature gauge is completely useless.. you can actually remove it completely.. Apple measures the temperature via the sensor (a backwards transistor).. and does nothing about it.. the fan never turns on.. not in Gen 1, Gen 2 or Gen 3.. they seem to have relented a bit in Gen 4... perhaps due to the level of complaints about overheating.
One great thing about running it with 2.5" drive.. you can remove the power supply which will be on its last legs and get a plugpack.. 5v 3A, and run the TC from that.
Repair method 3.
Yea I had no Trouble getting it apart. Nothing got damaged! So what happens if I use the existing Power Supply with the 2.5 HD? Any danger in that? I know that sensor cable does not do much for heat. That's why the original HD died in the 1st place. No ventilation & no cooling. I figure the Laptop Drive SHOULD run a bit cooler. Am I right about that? I guess as long as I can use the existing Power Supply with the 2.5 HD, I will be happy. It stays in one place. Never moved. And my old version has No Power Brick, just an AC Plug.
So what happens if I use the existing Power Supply with the 2.5 HD? Any danger in that?
There is no danger.. so make that clear. The laptop drive draw less power tha large 3.5" drive and will run cooler.. but the difference will not make a huge difference.. it is only 3W when the drive is spun down. And the new green 3.5 drive will run equally cool.
What goes wrong is the power supply as well as the hard disk. The supply will be on its last legs. A gen1 or gen2 supply is going to be equally stressed on the 5v line as it was running the larger drive.. They both draw around the same current.. but the small drive has no 12v. That will not help.. the PS has no issues with 12v.. it does burn out the 5v capacitors.
Running external plugpack is my solution to the burning and burned out internal supply.. apple always made them with internal.. hence short life span.. cf airport extreme with external supply lasted a lot longer.
So I guess the Power Supply just dies eventually, no matter what drive you put in there. That stinks! Don't think I would buy another Time Capsule in the future. I even think a Lynksys Router will do. Although Airport Utility is suppse to be an easy Setup, I found it to be a Pain with DSL AT&T. I got it set up but not a big fan of AU.
Not sure if this is useful to anyone - but a while ago - I put 4 soft rubber bumpers on the bottom of the Time Capsule - because it was making a heat mark on the surface on which it was sitting. Now there is air flow underneath the Time Capsule - and I have to say - the temperature on the top of the TC is noticeably cooler than it was in the past - as well as almost no vibration or noise while the drive is spinning.
~Scott
SBeattie2 wrote:
Not sure if this is useful to anyone - but a while ago - I put 4 soft rubber bumpers on the bottom of the Time Capsule - because it was making a heat mark on the surface on which it was sitting.
It is great comment.. heat build up under the TC is a huge issue.. either use a laptop cooler made of thick aluminium to conduct the heat away.. no use turning the fan on.. nothing to blow on. Or lift it up to provide air circulation underneath helps..
But think of what is happening inside if the outside through a rubber foot is able to heat mark a surface.. the internals will die of heat exhaustion before too long..
It is a simple formula and has proven true over and over.. drop the temperature of a silicon junction 10degC and the device will last twice as long. That is also true of electrolytic capacitors in the power supply.. they are rated lifespan of 2000hours at full rated temperature.. yeap.. 2000hrs = 83days..
But last twice as long for every 10deg drop..
You want stuff to last.. keep it cool.. !! Taint rocket science.
So I guess Standing it on it's side is not such a dumb idea after all. I have thought about standing on it's side. I May try that.
Yes, although you should note.. there is next to no wireless signal from the top and bottom of the TC.. they are all metal.. the antennas are along the three sides without ports. Remember that when you orientate the TC.. they do sell some wall mount on ebay for them and vertical mount as well.. make sure it is stable.. having it tip over and crash to the floor will not ensure long lasting disk backups.
Better still fix it with external power supply.
Remember the damage is done.. keeping it cool at this point will not recover time lost by having it overheat.
I suspect that the majority of the heat is coming from the router components - and maybe the power supply - and not from the drive. My drive is hardly ever running except for short backups or occasional large copies. Not sure why Apple would build such an enclouse with no ventilation and with heat sensitive components. I suspect the reason that the internal fan never comes on is because the drive itself is probably not approaching a dangerous temperature - but the other components are. I have only ever heard the internal fan spin up momentariy when the power cord is first plugged into the unit.
SBeattie2 wrote:
I suspect that the majority of the heat is coming from the router components - and maybe the power supply - and not from the drive.
My estimate would be about 1/3 from each but that is only when the drive is running.. for most people the drive is in standby.. and consumption is very low...
Unfortunately power supply is probably 70% efficient.. if that.. and of course all the power consumed by the router is effectively heat.. the actual energy in rf or ethernet signals is miniscule.
As such the fan is indeed orientated wrongly.. to blow over the hard disk.. and the heat sensor is attached to the hard disk.. also wrong. But remember this design is unchanged since Gen1 TC came out.. with a 1TB hitachi drive that ran at boiling point.. excellent drive but never designed for a tiny box.
The fan spins up every time you power on the TC.. as part of the boot cycle.. until the firmware shuts it off.. and if it comes on again.. meltdown is imminent.. flashing warning.. reactor core breach.. emergency coolant lost.. get ready for molten plastic in China.
Can I Use a 2.5 Laptop Hard Drive in Time Capsule?
