Level 1

11 points

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

38 replies

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

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

First the Internet Tab:

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.

Then Internet Options:

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

Then Network, in Bridge Mode:

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."

Then double-clicked it to Open:

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.

BrianVogt Author

Level 1

11 points

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.

BrianVogt Author

Level 1

11 points

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.

BrianVogt Author

Level 1

11 points

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 13, 2015 8:30 PM in response to BrianVogt

I will give that a try tomorrow, but will have wait till the afternoon. I'll Enable the PC LAN connection to the router, Disable the PC WiFi connection, then hardwire the TC to the router. Will that pretty much mimic your setup?

BrianVogt Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 14, 2015 6:17 AM in response to Mike's Pad

Yes, I believe that should mimic my setup. Basically I have a cable modem running to a TP-link wireless router. I have a PC connected to the wireless router via ethernet and also the Time capsule connected to that wireless router by ethernet. The Mac connects over wifi to the router.

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.

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

3. Double click on that and the 2Tb internal drive is displayed

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

Sep 14, 2015 4:31 PM in response to Mike's Pad

4. Open the TC drive---its empty now:

5. Save a Word file to it:

6. And finally, Open that Word file:

Bottom line at this end...reading and writing within Windows 10 to a TC drive is the same with or without an AirPort Express upstream in the Network.

BrianVogt Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 14, 2015 7:32 PM in response to Mike's Pad

Very interesting. I assume that you get the same result using the time capsule Gen3 (same one I have)?

If that's the case, then it does mean that there is definitely a software setting that can be changed. The challenge is finding that setting either in Windows 10 or the Time capsule. Good news is that there is a solution! Challenge is finding that solution.

I noticed that it's possible to save the config file for a time capsule. Would it be possible to export and email me your config file to me directly (without passwords) so that I can try to install it on my time capsule? If I still have the the problem after that, I assume that the problem definitely is in a Windows 10 setting..... though isolating that is going to be even more challenging, I think.

Sep 14, 2015 7:50 PM in response to BrianVogt

I have Exported the config. file for the Gen3...Good thought.

Tomorrow I'll try to find it and email to you. Click on my user name, email addy is visible there. Send me one and I'll Reply with the file, assuming I can find it. My Spam Blocker will bounce it back but don't pay attention to that. I know where to go to retrieve it.

BrianVogt Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 14, 2015 8:03 PM in response to Mike's Pad

Thanks... though apparently the system doesn't let me see your email address and probably best not to post addresses publicly. Unfortunately, the system doesn't seem to have a way to two users to correspond directly.

Sep 15, 2015 8:41 AM in response to BrianVogt

Brian, I just emailed two config files, one each for my Gen3 and Gen4. The two files are virtually identical, only the Base Station Name is different.

NoTC setup changes are required when moving it upstream, or downstream, of the AirPort Express. It's like the TC could care less about the Express. Totally ignores it. However the ISP router is a different story. That TC cares about.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

PC can read time capsule but can't write