Can't access Time Capsule Hard Drive...Password not accepted

Question

Level 1

8 points

Can't access Time Capsule Hard Drive...Password not accepted

The device "Time Capsule 802.11n (3rd Gen)"

Subject: Can't connect to TC HD

I've reconfigured our old Time Capsule (TC) for use by my college bound daughter. Everything associated with the TC appears to be functioning correctly (ie. Internet access, WIFI configured, and etc...). I reformatted the HD to start anew. And performed latest update as indicated by the Airport Utility app. The intent is to create a new local area WIFI with backup (Time Machine).

When setting up Time Machine I pointed to the TC Internal HD, and then it states "Connecting to etc..". After a few seconds a new mold-box presents itself to "Enter your password for the server (TC Name) so Time Machine can access it". I enter the HD password I had setup in the Airport Utility with no avail. I checked all Passwords with the Airport Utility "Show Passwords". Tried all the passwords, and of course none of which worked. And yes, I even try the previous passwords even though I had changed them 😉

I did notice that using the Airport Utility 6.3.5 running on my OS X 10.10.5 machine I can see and edit the TC. But when I use another machine running 10.11.6 it's Airport Utility 6.3.6 does not see the TC?!

Thoughts and comments please?

Next step is maybe to reset to factory defaults, but feel something else is going on here...

Thank you

Regards,

Roger

Time Capsule 802.11n (3rd Gen)-OTHER, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 20, 2016 7:32 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 20, 2016 7:48 PM in response to rlochness

1) Try resetting the password for the disk in AirPort Utility

2) Open TextEdit on the Mac and type the password in plain text into an editor window. This will allow you to ensure that all of the keyboard keys are being recognized. I have seen cases where passwords fail over and over because of a problem with a bad key on the keyboard or a typing habit that makes you believe that you are entering the password one way but the result is something else. Being able to actually see the password as typed allows you to check that.

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Answer 2

rlochness Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 20, 2016 10:50 PM in response to FishingAddict

Thanks for the response, had already tried the password resetting, but didn't think of the possible defective keyboard keys... Unfortunately, all passwords came out correctly, along with all the keys...

Thanks for the suggestion!

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Answer 3

Aug 21, 2016 1:07 PM in response to rlochness

Reset the TC to factory and configure it from the newer machine with 6.3.6 version of the utility. Although I doubt the issue is the utility per se it can be the difference between how Yosemite and El Capo are handling networking.

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Answer 4

rlochness Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 22, 2016 9:56 PM in response to LaPastenague

I reset the TC back to the Factory Defaults and this ultimately resolved whatever the access/communication problem was with the internal HD. Originally, I was dreading going thru the process of reconfiguring the TC. But actually resetting would have been easier. I had spent at least two hours trying to debug the access/communication issue as compared to 15-20 minutes to reset and configure the TC...

Thank you for your support and response

Problem solved 😉

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