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abombaci Author

Level 2

255 points

Is Time Capsule half dead?

Hi,

I had this problem in the past. When ever power went out or Time Capsule was unplugged for any reason when plugging back in I would have to finagle with it for hours till the there was any sign of a light that came on. (Green Light)

Whenever this happens when I plug it in I can feel the hard drive inside it spinning but the light doesn't come on so I have no network. In the past I would finagle with pluggin it in and out. It always spinned up when plugged back in but there was no light. So after trying to plug and replug that would usually not do it. Usuall when I waited about an hour the light green light would come back on then I would be all set and once on it never goes off till it's unplugged and stays on and works flawless.

Well this time I'm afraid it's gone for good because I left the plug out overnight and this morning I tried plugging it back in to no success. This time I think it's gone for good but still the hard drive is kicking on.

Once I can get this to come on it will always stay on and work flawlessly for month on end till it's unplugged and then the trouble starts. I can usually resurrect it like I said if I let it sit with the plug out for a while.l

So what is this half-dead or what? Any idea? This time I'm afraid it's never going to come back on despite the hard drive inside always starting up. Now I have no network. So half of it comes on while the light and network don't.

Time Capsule 802.11n 4th gen.

Posted on May 15, 2014 7:48 AM

17 replies

May 17, 2014 1:22 PM in response to rjh2805

If the hard drive is spinning up that is good.. what has happened is the disk has lost format. I have seen several where that has happened. There is a boot test of the hard disk. You are quite correct.. the OS of the TC is held in flash. But Apple have made boot dependent on the hard disk passing certain tests. If it fails then the TC can sometimes boot and give you a disk needs repair warning.. or if it is severe error it will stop the boot and remain in stopped state until you restart.

So then next question is.. where to now.

If you have applecare on a computer it may still cover the TC. Ring apple and ask.

Sometimes you can still buy a product and add applecare to it. eg Apple TV. The TC must be 2years old or less.

I have posted some ideas here.

https://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modem s/apple-time-capsule-repair/gen4-a1409-issues

In some places in the world Apple is under obligation to fix issues beyond the written warranty.. You have rights under your Consumer Affairs for products that cost a certain amount to have a reasonable lifespan. Since no TC Gen4 has yet reached 3 years.. although the first ones are now close.. then I would expect 3 years is reasonable lifespan for modern consumer electronics.

The other way to fix it is DIY.

Your TC at least still works.. for many they are dark.. no lights at all.

In your case you simply need to replace the hard disk.

See http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Apple_Time_Capsule

You can just remove the hard disk.. the TC will then boot and behave just as an AE Gen5.

Put a new hard disk in it and you will then erase the hard disk from the airport utility.. quick erase to format the new drive and you will have a working TC again.

lferro33

Level 1

4 points

Aug 4, 2017 9:33 AM in response to abombaci

Hi, I am having the same problem!!

Could you fix this issue? or you had to use your warranty?

Is Time Capsule half dead?