Error -36 launching files from time capsule

I'm having the same experience and it appears to be related to Sierra 10.12.2.

In my case I have an old Mini, acting as a mediaserver to my TV, running Lion 10.7.5 (highest version that'll run on it) with an old TC as an external disk as well as a WiFi repeater.

In addition, I have a MacBook, running the latest Sierra 10.12.2 as my daily-use computer.

Until recently, I was able to stream movies by WiFi from my TC to my PowerBook, but now I'm also getting the same 'Error -36' in all video applications (VLC, QuickTime, Roxio Media Player and MPEG Streamclip), unless I use the 'Open file' function.

If I 'reverse' the procedure, by opening a video-file on the MacBook from the Mini by double clicking, I don't encounter the issue; movies play directly on my TV and no Error -36.

Given the fact that:

a) I only noticed it recently, after upgrading to 10.12.2, and

b) It doesn't appear on my Mini running Lion

I can only conclude that it's a bug in Sierra 10.12.2

I have the problem too. Although I didn't notice the problem until I made two changes to my Time Capsule:

1. Turned off the wifi, since I now have a FiOS Quantum router that's faster
2. Updated the firmware via the Airport Utility

FWIW, there does seem to be a bug in 10.12.2. There have been multiple posts. Although some have said yesterday's Time Capsule firmware update helped.

I have had exactly the same problem. The files in different applications won't open inside the Time Capsule, yet when I move them to the desktop of the Mac they open. When I open the same applications I've copied from the TC to another external hard drive they open flawlessly. I've even run a test doc and application file moving it to the TC and it won't open. This morning after a week of working on it, it appears the PDF files will open in my TC but again the other docs and applications will not. This all occurred after updating OS 10.12.2. I've never had a TC problem in almost 7 years. Hate to chuck the TC over this issue.

No need to chuck anything. You just need to wait for a fix from Apple.

I have noticed that today some of the files started opening but not all of them when I attempt to open them inside the TC.

The "some" was most likely due to the firmware update that was just released. Still need to wait for a further fix.

Could I ask what version of firmware. My Airport Extreme (Firmware version 7.7.8) had an update today, but my Time Capsule (Firmware version 7.6.8) didn't update today and doesn't show an update pending.

I'm having the same issue. I have a SSD connected to my TC. I used to be able to play movie files that were on the SSD, but after the latest update, I cannot. I get an error stating that VLC can't be opened -36.

Just another update to this. I note that I also can open the files on the TC with my mobile devices with a File Browser App. The only place I continue to not be able to open TC files is directly from the TC with my iMac or my MacAir or my wife's MacPro.

I don't think it's related to the firmware version. Anything running 10.12.1 doesn't exhibit this problem. Tried firmware versions 7.7.7 & 7.7.8 on the TC.

There is also a work around where if you use the open dialog from within an app, the files will work without issue.

RyJL thanks for the advice. I was wondering if there was a way to go back to version 10.12.1? That worked fine. Thanks for the advice on the open dialog from within the app.

It's possible to go back via Time Machine backups. Afterward, you should be able to explore your files within TM & get any files that you updated/changed back onto your 10.12.1 install, since it'll be restoring your entire computer back to that point before the upgrade. Make copies of any files you created or changed since the update just in case.

I tried to use another SSD and got the same issue. I then took the SSD and reformatted it and tried to play a movie file from that, while connected to my TC, and it worked. Looks like something happened with 10.12.2 that made the SSD need to be reformatted.