Time Capsule not connecting to network

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Time Capsule not connecting to network

Hello,

We had to change our router in the house and now I am trying to get the time capsule to connect to the network again and I am having a terrible time. My time capsule is flashing amber which as the manual says is network related. I have been using the AirPort Utility and keep getting the "No configured AirPort base station have been found. AirPort will continue searching." I have tired resting Time Capsule by pressing the button on the back for 1 second and then selecting the wifi network that says Apple Network XXXXXX (for my unit) that has resulted in the Time Capsule being visible in the AirPort Utility but when you click on it and see all the details in that little popup style window all the status items are orange. I can select edit but that's the only thing I can do. I tried changing a few setting and getting it to update but that just resulted in the Time Capsule showing me the warning symbol. In AirPort Utility I only have access to File - Configure Other... for which I entered the name of my Time Capsule and the password I set when I set it up originally. I also tried putting in Apple Network XXXXXX and the password public as the manual says and it just spins for what feels like 10 mins and then gives me the message of "error has occurred while reading the configuration" which is the same result as when I put my Time Capsule name in. I don't know what I am doing wrong, it should not be this challenging. I know the Ethernet I have connected into the Time Capsule has an active connection as I have plugged the Ethernet into my computer and can still access the internet etc (of course with my wifi turned off). I have been backing up via Time Machine for a while and really don't want to lose everything I have. Any help you can offer, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Posted on Nov 3, 2014 7:41 PM

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Answer 1

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LaPastenague

Level 9

67,226 points

Nov 3, 2014 10:24 PM in response to Coppertop

Reset the TC to factory.. this will not do any harm to the backup on the hard disk.. it merely deletes the current TC router settings.

Factory reset universal

Power off the TC.. ie pull the power cord or power off at the wall.. wait 10sec.. hold in the reset button.. be gentle.. power on again still holding in reset.. and keep holding it in for another 10sec. You may need some help as it is hard to both hold in reset and apply power. It will show success by rapidly blinking the front led. Release the reset.. and wait a couple of min for the TC to reset and come back with factory settings. If the front LED doesn’t blink rapidly you missed it and simply try again. The reset is fairly fragile in these.. press it so you feel it just click and no more.. I have seen people bend the lever or even break it. I use a toothpick as tool.

N.B. None of your files on the hard disk of the TC are deleted.. this simply clears out the router settings of the TC.

After you finish this you should make sure your wireless is set with IPv6 on link-local only.. it simply will not work properly without and auto is just that.. auto.. it can select wrongly.

I strongly recommend using short names, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.. not the names that the airport utility will toss up.

And you may well still have issues so need to use ethernet computer to LAN of the TC.. in full network isolation .. this allows you to do a fully manual setup.

Airport Utility shows "unexpected error - please try again" when connecting to Time Capsule

This advantage of this is to get rid of all the auto.. voodoo related to wireless.. then you have full control over the system otherwise missing.

Expect more problems using Yosemite if you already upgraded.

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Answer 2

Coppertop Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 18, 2014 10:45 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thank you LaPastenague for your assistance. It did require the help of another person and the reset button was very temperamental. I had to do the process several times using a toothpick as you advised, as I never seem to have pressed the button enough. Setting the config to IPv6 on "link-local only" was key. I did set a shorter name as you suggested also. I can't believe how challenging it was to get to this point when all I did was change my router. Thanks for all your help and tips.

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2014 8:09 AM in response to Coppertop

I can't believe how challenging it was to get to this point when all I did was change my router

There is an old network saying that goes something like this........

If you make just one change on a network.......everything else on the network will change.

The saying might be old....but it is still true today.

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