HT201510: Setting up Time Capsule for the first time

Learn about Setting up Time Capsule for the first time
shaundex
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Q: Can I use the Aiport Time Capsule as a Hard Drive and a Back up device?

I just purchased the Airport Extreme 2TB Time Capsule and have gone through the setup process.  I set the auto back up and it is operating wirelessly, but I am unable to save files to the drive seperate from the backup.

 

We wanted to use this as mass storage device for photography (saving RAW and JPEG images) to keep the Macbook Air HD space free.

Posted on Mar 3, 2014 10:48 AM

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shaundex

Q: Can I use the Aiport Time Capsule as a Hard Drive and a Back up device?

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  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Mar 3, 2014 10:51 AM in response to shaundex
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 3, 2014 10:51 AM in response to shaundex

    An ill-advised strategy. Backups and storage should be kept separate for security reasons. If you use a single drive for both and the drive fails then you've lost everything. With separate drives you only lose some things but not everything.

  • by shaundex,

    shaundex shaundex Mar 3, 2014 11:44 AM in response to Kappy
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    Mar 3, 2014 11:44 AM in response to Kappy

    Thanks Kappy.  That is a good point, but until I am able to buy a seperate drive, is there a way to do both with minimal effort?

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Mar 3, 2014 11:48 AM in response to shaundex
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 3, 2014 11:48 AM in response to shaundex

    As long as the Time Capsule shows a Desktop icon to select then you can simply copy files to the drive directly and bypass Time Machine's backups. Time Machine backs up in a special folder, so saving files to the drive directly does not put those file into the backup folder used by Time Machine. You should be able to access those files by opening a Finder window on the drive's Desktop icon.

  • by shaundex,

    shaundex shaundex Mar 3, 2014 11:52 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 11:52 AM in response to Kappy

    Thanks again!  I will give this a try.