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PC can read time capsule but can't write

I have a time capsule 3rd generation (A1355). I have a mac and a PC in my household. I was able to backup both computers to it until recently. About a month ago I upgraded the PC to Windows 10. Since then I've been having problems with the PC backup to the time capsule. The mac can read and write to the time capsule without any problems. On the PC, using Windows Explorer I'm able to see the time capsule, and access all the files. However, I'm unable to write any files to the time capsule. When try to manually copy and paste a file from my C Drive to the time capsule using Windows explorer I get an error: can't read from the source file or disk. Whenever I try to do a backup using Comodo backup, I also get a write error.


I'm assuming that Windows 10 is the culprit here, but not 100% sure if that's the cause or just a coincidence. Any ideas on how to resolve this?

Time Capsule-OTHER, Other OS

Posted on Sep 2, 2015 7:07 PM

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38 replies

Sep 11, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Mike's Pad

Hmmm.... very interesting that you've gotten the Gen 3 running 7.6.4 to work.


I've actually tried disabling the windows firewall to see if that was the culprit, but disabling it didn't make any difference. So, I assume that leaving it enabled and allowing inbound connections from the TC wouldn't make a difference, but I'll certainly try it just in case.


If you could also let me know what the other settings are on your time capsule, when you get a chance, I'll see if I can mirror that.

Sep 11, 2015 4:20 PM in response to BrianVogt

Brian, here is some more food for thought.


First, my network as displayed by Airport Utility

User uploaded file


Then some of the high level Time Capsule settings I am using.

First the Internet Tab:

User uploaded file



Then Wireless:

I have Wireless turned Off because I do not need another WiFi signal. My Express covers that. I use Time Capsule ONLY for Time Machine backups.

User uploaded file



Then Internet Options:

Edit Note: Out of order, this next one should come before Wireless above as is it a subset of Internet.

User uploaded file



Then Network, in Bridge Mode:

User uploaded file


Hope this helps. I'm here to help if I can.

Sep 11, 2015 4:32 PM in response to nova1956

Noval1956:


My Time Capsule (TC) drive is formated Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Time Machine demands that, which is all I use TC for. Windows 10 has no problem with Mac OS X Extended (Journaled).


Example, for purposes of this post I created a WORD document in Win 10 and Saved it to TC. Titled "Testing Time Capsule Read.doc."

User uploaded file


Then double-clicked it to Open:

User uploaded file


I can't claim any special tips or tricks I've used. Again, it just works.

Sep 11, 2015 4:43 PM in response to Mike's Pad

Brian:

Back to my Network display above, you will notice a Time Capsule Gen3 (the working one). Then additionally, a Time Capsule Gen4, yellow flaged. That's nothing more than a ghost. I set the Gen4 up several months ago and then removed it for the time being. AirPort Utility remembers that, displaying a yellow flag to let me know its not plugged in.

Sep 12, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Mike's Pad

Mike,


Looking at your network configuration, one thing immediately strikes me as different on your setup. You seem to have an airport express wifi hotspot. I use a TP-link wifi router. So, that may be the difference. My airport utility doesn't even seem to have the screen that you displayed that shows the internet > airport express base > time capsule.


What version of the airport utility on your PC are you using?


It could be that using the airport express base station could be the factor that allows the time capsule to work with your windows 10 PC. Just a guess.

Sep 12, 2015 9:30 AM in response to BrianVogt

Brian:

Those screenshots were taken from a MacBook using AirPort Utility 6.3.5. On my PC it's 5.6.1 but I seldom/if ever use it there. You have a Mac, right? And AirPort Utility works fine for you there?


My primary router is a Netgear DSL gateway, a combo modem/router, from Frontier Communications. Here is another network screenshot embellished using PhotoShop providing more detail.


User uploaded file


MY PC connects wirelessly to this Network, not through a direct LAN connection to the Netgear router. I'm using a little Edimax USB WiFi Adapter for that...works great. When I installed that WiFi adapter long ago I consciously disconnected the LAN connection to the router, to force the PC into using WiFi to hop onto my Network. I also discovered during that process Windows 7 had this Virtual WiFi Adapter thing, well hidden within Network settings, and it was active. I disconnected that too. I don't know if Windows 10 even has it, haven't looked.

All connections to these Network devices are wired, Ethernet. Both AirPort Express routers extend the network provided by the Netgear and are set up in Bridge mode. A.K.A, a Roaming Network.


I had this network set up and working under Windows 7, long before I initiated the Windows 10 Upgrade. After the Upgrage, just last week, I've made no networking changes whatsoever. How about you? What did you upgrade from? And was it working correctly on that legacy Windows system?

What could be getting in your way? It's a guessing game, really. Again, was yours working before the Upgrade? It could be that my use of the AirPort Base Station makes a difference, although I don't see how. Could it be my that PC uses a WiFi connection to the network? Beats me.

Don't give up, Brian, I'm confident a solution will be found.

PS: An open invite for some of the AirPort Network gurus on this board to chime in on this.

Sep 13, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Mike's Pad

Thanks for the more detailed diagram. I tried to mimic your setup by disconnecting my PC from my TP-Link wireless router and just use the wireless connection there to access the time capsule. My PC had been connected to the router by an ethernet cable and the time capsule is connected to the router also by ethernet (via a powerline connection). So, I disconnected the ethernet connection and enabled the wireless connection between the PC and the wireless router. Interestingly, the time capsule drive was no longer accessible and the airport express utility on the PC could not access the time capsule. So, I'm perplexed by that, but perhaps you were able to get it working because your wifi hub in the airport express base.


As for my previous setup, I had Windows 7 and had no problem access reading/writing the time capsule from my Windows 7 PC.

Sep 13, 2015 10:35 AM in response to BrianVogt

My thoughts on AirPort Utility runing on Windows 10: Very ephemeral. Sometimes Network Discovery works, sometimes it doesn't. I have observed, however, a possible correlation between successful Win 10 AU discovery AND high tides at Venice Beach with 7 or more redheads on the boardwalk. That's my best tip for the day.😁


Inasmuch as I find high tides and redheads unreliable, I seldom use AU on Win10 anymore. AU on my MacBooks is my go-to network manager - rock solid there.


I'm now thinking you may have Permissions problem, OR, some device/app has a file/TC Open active, not allowing a Write. Do you have another PC or Mac with Time Machine? If so try shutting them down to release the TC. Alternatively, is there another app on the PC that could have an active Open to the file(s) you attempt to Write to?


Permissions, not my strong suit. I'd have to poke around a lot to see what if anything is amiss there.

Sep 13, 2015 8:06 PM in response to Mike's Pad

Hmm.... pretty much out of ideas here. I was actually able to connect wirelessly. Turns out the time capsule power cord had gotten accidentally disconnected. But, connecting wirelessly didn't make any difference. Also tried the sequential startup of each device and didn't make a difference.


I suppose that one way to test if it's the addition of the airport express base that is allowing Windows 10 to write to the time capsule would be for you to take the airport express base out of our network and see if you can still write to the time capsule using a wired connection to your netgear router. But also understand if you don't want to mess around with your network just to confirm this one hypothesis.

Sep 14, 2015 7:04 AM in response to BrianVogt

Gor it.


My plan is to leave the existing network intact but to kill it temporarily by disconnecting it from the router. Then set up a Gen4 TC which will be wired directly to the router. Lastly, Enable the LAN connection to my PC, Save a few files to the TC (hopefully), Open them back up, take a few screen shots and report back.....which will be this afternoon, PDST.


Can you think of anything else that might be helpful?

Sep 14, 2015 4:22 PM in response to Mike's Pad

Brian:

I don't know if this is Good news, or Bad news for you...but it works given my Plan above.


1. I disconnected my existing network and setup Time Capsule Gen4. Here is the AirPort Utility display from my Mac.

User uploaded file


2. The Time-Capsule-GE (Gen4) as seen on my Win 10 NetworkUser uploaded file


3. Double click on that and the 2Tb internal drive is displayedUser uploaded file


I'm going to split this up into two posts....more to follow below.

PC can read time capsule but can't write

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