fredfrommccormick

Q: How do I reset time capsule and remove all time machine backups?

I bought the newest Time Capsule and would like to reset my old one to factory settings and remove my Time Machine backups so I can sell it or give it away. I know I can reset it to factory with the reset button but will that erase my backup folder? I have already installed my new Time Capsule and have disconnected the old one from the network.

Thanks for any help

Fred

Time Capsule, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), Airport Utility

Posted on Sep 13, 2013 4:58 PM

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Q: How do I reset time capsule and remove all time machine backups?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 13, 2013 5:38 PM in response to fredfrommccormick
    Level 10 (105,008 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 13, 2013 5:38 PM in response to fredfrommccormick

    Is it possible for you to temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the LAN <-> ports on the old Time Capsule?

     

    If yes, open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility on the Mac and see if the old Time Capsule appears on the screen.

     

    Post back on your progress.

  • by fredfrommccormick,

    fredfrommccormick fredfrommccormick Sep 13, 2013 5:42 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 13, 2013 5:42 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Yes and yes. I see the old backup files now and I should be able to delete them.

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 13, 2013 5:56 PM in response to fredfrommccormick
    Level 10 (105,008 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 13, 2013 5:56 PM in response to fredfrommccormick

    Hold on just a second please, and read this additional information.

     

    Click on the old Time Capsule icon, then click Edit in the smalll window that appears

    Click on the Disks tab at the top of the window

    Click Erase Disk

     

     

    Screen Shot 2013-09-13 at 7.48.02 PM.png

     

    If another infividual will receive the old Time Capsule, you will want to use a secure erase method here, so you will need to choose the Zero Out erase option.

     

    Important....this is likely going to take 5-6 hours, and you must leave your Mac connected during the process, so you might want to do this overnight.

     

     

    Screen Shot 2013-09-13 at 7.49.08 PM.png

     

     

    Once that is complete, click the Base Station menu at the uppermost top of the screen and then click Restore Default Settings.

     

    This will get the old Time Capsule back to new, out of box default settings.

     

     

    Screen Shot 2013-09-13 at 7.51.42 PM.png

     

     

    This operation will take a minute or two, and the Time Capsule will be slowly blinking amber at that time.

     

    You can now disconnect the Ethernet cable that you used for the operations on the old Time Capsule.

  • by fredfrommccormick,

    fredfrommccormick fredfrommccormick Sep 13, 2013 6:05 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 13, 2013 6:05 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Wow, thanks so much Bob. I'm always excited when you respond to a question I have, because I know I'm going to have a perfect solution very shortly. You are the expert.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you

    Fred

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 13, 2013 6:09 PM in response to fredfrommccormick
    Level 10 (105,008 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 13, 2013 6:09 PM in response to fredfrommccormick

    Happy to help. Have a good evening.

  • by Eric Jan Peters,

    Eric Jan Peters Eric Jan Peters Sep 22, 2013 7:05 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2013 7:05 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hi Bob,

     

    I read your reply about erasing the TC disk.

    What if I just want tot remove de backup file and not the other files (like 70 GB of photo's) on my TC disk? 

     

    Thanks!

    eric jan

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 22, 2013 7:21 AM in response to Eric Jan Peters
    Level 10 (105,008 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 22, 2013 7:21 AM in response to Eric Jan Peters

    Erase the Time Capsule as above and then move the photos back onto the Time Capsule from your backup.

     

    I am sure that you have a backup of the photos on another drive.

  • by Eric Jan Peters,

    Eric Jan Peters Eric Jan Peters Sep 22, 2013 7:46 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2013 7:46 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    This is my backup

    Need to find another drive first.

     

    thanks for your reply.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 22, 2013 8:02 AM in response to Eric Jan Peters
    Level 10 (105,008 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 22, 2013 8:02 AM in response to Eric Jan Peters
    This is my backup

     

    If this is your only copy of the photos, you have no backup at all. 

     

    If you keep your photos on another hard drive that is connected to your Mac, then Time Machine will back up both your Mac and the hard drive to the Time Capsule......so you have backups of your computer and your photos this way.

  • by Eric Jan Peters,

    Eric Jan Peters Eric Jan Peters Oct 2, 2013 11:28 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2013 11:28 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I have a backup of the photo's now...

     

    What about using Hard disk utilities ? Erasing the disk I use for TM ? 

     

    I just want to start over with my back up, because it is half of my 1TB disk now. And I want to use the same disk to back up my MacBook. 

  • by RetiredArmyRANGER,

    RetiredArmyRANGER RetiredArmyRANGER Jun 28, 2015 9:59 AM in response to fredfrommccormick
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 28, 2015 9:59 AM in response to fredfrommccormick

    Great visual and thank you!