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Time Machine can't back up to Time Capsule because disk is not found

Hello all. I have been using TC as my router for a few years and backing up to it. I got a new router through my IP which I think might be faster so just want to use TC as backup. However, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I connected the TC to the new router via Ethernet cable but the message says TM can't find it. I guess I don't understand the logic of what is happening with TC and router. Is there something special I should be doing. I have always had the TC configured as I was using it both ways. Should I be changing the configuration?


Macbook Pro. Running Mavericks. Thanks

Posted on Feb 16, 2015 11:39 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Feb 16, 2015 12:49 PM

You must reset the TC to factory regardless.. in any new situation it will be lost.. it need to full factory reset and start over.


A factory reset of the TC is the start.. it is required so you can find it again.


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.


Setup the TC again.


ie Start from a factory reset. No files are lost on the hard disk doing this.


Then redo the setup from the computer .

1. Use very short names.. NOT APPLE RECOMMENDED names. No spaces and pure alphanumerics.

eg TCgen5 and TCwifi for basestation and wireless respectively.


Even better if the issue is more wireless use TC24ghz and TC5ghz with fixed channels as this also seems to help stop the nonsense. But this can be tried in the second round.


2. Use all passwords that also comply but can be a bit longer. ie 8-20 characters mixed case and numbers.. no non-alphanumerics.


3. Ensure the TC always takes the same IP address.. you will need to do this on the main router using dhcp reservation.. or a bit more complex setup using static IP in the TC. But this is important.. having IP drift all over the place when Yosemite cannot remember its own name for 5 min after a reboot makes for poor networking. If the TC is main router it will not be an issue.


4. Check your share name on the computer is not changing.. make sure it also complies with the above.. short no spaces and pure alphanumeric.. but this change will mess up your TM backup.. so be prepared to do a new full backup. Sorry.. keep this one for second round if you want to avoid a new backup.


5. Mount the TC disk in the computer manually.


In Finder, Go, Connect to server from the top menu,

Type in SMB://192.168.0.254 (or whatever the TC ip is which you have now made static. As a router by default it is 10.0.1.1 and I encourage people to stick with that unless you know what you are doing).


You can use name.. SMB://TCgen5.local where you replace TCgen5 with your TC name.. local is the default domain of the TC and doesn't change.

However names are not so easy as IP address.. nor as reliable. At least not in Yosemite they aren't. The domain can also be an issue if you are not plugged or wireless directly to the TC.


6. Make sure IPv6 is set to link-local only in the computer. For example wireless open the network preferences, wireless and advanced / TCP/IP.. and fix the IPv6. to link-local only.




Not all of that is necessary.. but at least the factory reset and new naming.. then reset the TM again and select the TC as the location for the backup.

It will say it is going to start a new backup but it should discover the existing one and after a bit of verification continue from where it left off.

6 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Feb 16, 2015 12:49 PM in response to originale

You must reset the TC to factory regardless.. in any new situation it will be lost.. it need to full factory reset and start over.


A factory reset of the TC is the start.. it is required so you can find it again.


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.


Setup the TC again.


ie Start from a factory reset. No files are lost on the hard disk doing this.


Then redo the setup from the computer .

1. Use very short names.. NOT APPLE RECOMMENDED names. No spaces and pure alphanumerics.

eg TCgen5 and TCwifi for basestation and wireless respectively.


Even better if the issue is more wireless use TC24ghz and TC5ghz with fixed channels as this also seems to help stop the nonsense. But this can be tried in the second round.


2. Use all passwords that also comply but can be a bit longer. ie 8-20 characters mixed case and numbers.. no non-alphanumerics.


3. Ensure the TC always takes the same IP address.. you will need to do this on the main router using dhcp reservation.. or a bit more complex setup using static IP in the TC. But this is important.. having IP drift all over the place when Yosemite cannot remember its own name for 5 min after a reboot makes for poor networking. If the TC is main router it will not be an issue.


4. Check your share name on the computer is not changing.. make sure it also complies with the above.. short no spaces and pure alphanumeric.. but this change will mess up your TM backup.. so be prepared to do a new full backup. Sorry.. keep this one for second round if you want to avoid a new backup.


5. Mount the TC disk in the computer manually.


In Finder, Go, Connect to server from the top menu,

Type in SMB://192.168.0.254 (or whatever the TC ip is which you have now made static. As a router by default it is 10.0.1.1 and I encourage people to stick with that unless you know what you are doing).


You can use name.. SMB://TCgen5.local where you replace TCgen5 with your TC name.. local is the default domain of the TC and doesn't change.

However names are not so easy as IP address.. nor as reliable. At least not in Yosemite they aren't. The domain can also be an issue if you are not plugged or wireless directly to the TC.


6. Make sure IPv6 is set to link-local only in the computer. For example wireless open the network preferences, wireless and advanced / TCP/IP.. and fix the IPv6. to link-local only.




Not all of that is necessary.. but at least the factory reset and new naming.. then reset the TM again and select the TC as the location for the backup.

It will say it is going to start a new backup but it should discover the existing one and after a bit of verification continue from where it left off.

Mar 5, 2015 1:48 PM in response to originale

Is the TC supposed to be connected to anything other than power?

As per your first post.. it should be plugged into the new router by ethernet.


The TC must then be configured correctly.. ie it is bridge mode.


User uploaded file


And it is best if you create a wireless network and use that .. even if just to do the setup.


User uploaded file


The blinking amber means you have not completed the setup or something is still wrong.


If TM still cannot find it you have not set it up correctly.. press reset and start over.. This time follow all the instructions.


Please give me screenshots of the TC setup as I have above.. from your Airport Utility.


You access the main setup pages via the edit..


User uploaded file


So I want this page.. then the two above.. ie Network, Wireless as well as internet which I have not shown.

Mar 5, 2015 1:59 PM in response to LaPastenague

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I can't access Airport Utility past this. It searches for ages. The reason I switched routers was because the new one is faster (I think). But if I have to keep TC plugged in to the router, won't it default to TC as a router, defeating the purpose of the other one? I'm sorry I don't understand the tech logic of this. You may have to explain as if to a child.User uploaded file

Time Machine can't back up to Time Capsule because disk is not found

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