How do I erase Time Capsule that is not connected

Question

Level 1

66 points

How do I erase Time Capsule that is not connected

I have a 2 GB Time Capsule that was previously used on another system so it's full of stuff from that system.

I have not connected it to my current Macbook Air 13 (2013) and my current wireless is provided by Cox Cable rental modem and router.

I want to securely erase the HD on the Time Capsule to prepare for sale, but cannot figure out how to do this.

Can someone give me a clue?

Must I re-setup the Time Capsule with my new system just to erase it?

Does anyone know if the Time Capsule and Motorola (6121 I think) will work with Cox Cable in case I want to keep it?

Thx

Posted on May 10, 2014 5:50 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,090 points

May 10, 2014 6:36 PM in response to Pier Rodelon

Unless you are lucky enough to have a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter that would allow you to establish a temporary Ethernet cable connection from the MacBook Air to a LAN <-> port on the Time Capsule......allowing you to access the settings on the Time Capsule......you will likely have to go through a quick "fake" setup on the Time Capsule to allow you to access the settings using your MacBook Air.

As a last ditch effort, try connecting an Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports on the modem/router to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule and check to see if AirPort Utility can "see" the Time Capsule that way.

It does not matter that the Time Capsule might be blinking amber, all that is important is that you can "see" the Time Capsule when you open AirPort Utility on the MacBook Air.

Please post on your findings.

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Answer 2

Pier Rodelon Author

Level 1

66 points

May 19, 2014 5:28 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Well, progress is slow as we're having some work done on house. I went to BB and got the Lightning to Ethernet adapter cable, so if there are detailed instruction how to use same to erase/reformat for sale the Time Capsule I would ask for those instructions now, as I'm kind of at a loss when it comes to TC, which seems like a Mystery Box to me. Much prefer the little 1 TB USB 3 drives for making quick CC backups.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,090 points

May 19, 2014 6:34 PM in response to Pier Rodelon

Connect the cable from the MacBook Air to one of the three LAN <--> ports on the Time Capsule

Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

Click on the picture of the Time Capsule and click Edit

Click the Disk tab at the top of the next window

Click Erase Disk

Choose the One Pass Erase option, which will likely take 4-6 hours

Click Erase

When the disk erase operation is complete, and if you want to erase all of the network settings and return the Time Capsule back to factory default settings.......click the Base Station menu (at the uppermost top of the screen), and then click Restore Default Settings

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