Recovering data from a "internal disk needs repair" Time Capsule error

I have a Airport Time Capsule model A1470, which has been functioning perfectly till today.

I got my macbook robbed this weekend, and today I arrived home to restore my Time Machine backups to an old macbook I had. I started the whole restoring process, but once I selected the Time Machine backup I wanted, an error was presented:

"The backup cannot be opened.

A unexpected error occurred trying to open the backup. (Error 2)"

I then cancelled it and logged into the network and into my Time Capsule disk. I had 4 different folders plus the Time Machine backup. I could access normally three folders (although it was very slow to read) however I cannot get any info into the 4th folder nor the Time Machine backup (for example, the size of it). The folder and file for the backup didn't even have an image for the files (like folders which have a blue folder icon as image), they had just plain blank images like they were unrecognized files.

After browsing a while about this issue, I read reseting the Airport maybe could fix the issue. Well, after I did that it started presenting a new error, in the Airport Utility status it started showing "internal disk needs repair" with a flashing amber light on the device. I didn't notice if this was showing before, but the main difference that happened after I reseted it, was that I could not even see the Time Capsule disk in Finder anymore. It just would not mount, and now I don't have access to anything, not even those other folders that were working.

I tried plugging in another external disk at the back of the Time Capsule, so I could use the Archive function before erasing it and trying to get it fixed, however the Archive also gave an error right on the beginning and it didn't work. However, this time the status light turned into green, but the "internal disk needs repair error" message is still showing and I still cannot access the volume with my files.

I really need my data back, any suggestions?

Oh, I had a password set to access the data in the Time Capsule disk, and I also had a password for my Time Machine Backup.

Please help me guys, they robbed my computer with all my data, and my last chance to get at least the data back is this backup that is in my Time Capsule failed disk :/ Worst weekend ever, unbelievable

null-OTHER, Airport Time Capsule model A1470

Posted on Nov 5, 2017 1:52 PM

19 replies

Dec 19, 2017 11:23 AM in response to Dauad

Thanks for the final report.. even if the result is bad.. that is the common situation.

All of us learn not to touch hot things with minor accidents.. occasionally you hear the story of the kid who drags an entire pot of boiling water over themselves.

The people who most religiously backup got burned somewhere in the past. Unfortunately your experience was the extreme one.. We know and feel your pain.

Frankly even cloud I would not trust.. it still makes sense to have a couple of copies of files on different hard disks.. disks are cheap.

Nov 24, 2017 11:43 AM in response to Dauad

Thanks for the feedback.. Interesting to know if Seagate is able to achieve anything.

Nov 6, 2017 2:49 PM in response to Dauad

Commiseration for a very bad turn of events.

You have very few choices ..

1. Open the TC and pull the hard disk. No choice on this one.

ifixit has instructions on opening the TC and removing the disk.. let me just add a warning that the ribbon cable from board to the hard disk is delicate.. remove it from the hard disk end.. it is locked on the TC board.. not clear in the ifixit instructions.

Airport Time Capsule A1470 Hard Drive Replacement - iFixit

2. Get a suitable USB 3 to SATA drive cradle / enclosure (bare cable with power also works).. unless you have a friend with older Mac Pro (lots of access to hard disk bays and sata cables).. this is a bit tricky because some USB to SATA require a reformat of the drive.. it must be able to read the drive as is. Check OWC if in the US for suitable enclosures. But they are cheap as chips on eBay.. you need a powered one.. as this is 3.5" drive.

Plug the drive into the computer and see if you can open it. A common failure is format.. this won't prevent the TC from booting but will give the error you experience. I am really hoping this is going to work.. but don't be too hopeful.

If it does work.. IMMEDIATELY copy the TM sparsebundle to another disk. That means you need another USB as a backup with enough space to copy the entire contents of the drive. It must be formatted HFS+ and make sure it is ready to go immediately.. don't reboot the computer or do anything.. if it works.. immediately copy.. starting from a cold disk helps.. (don't bother putting disk in freezer etc.. as some people recommend.. just room temperature is fine)

3. If it still will not mount.. or you cannot find your files.. you have a couple of choices..

The cheapest is to buy a disk reading software.. Disk Warrior, Data Rescue4?? whatever it is up to. Data Rescue was the preferred app.. and had a demo you could download and try.. if it was successful you can pay for the license.. this is about $100.

These software simply attempt to read the drive.. they do not modify anything which is good. Disk repair is to be avoided.. it will only make matters worse if you want the next step.

The sparsebundle must be intact.. no errors at all.

The much more expensive option is then to take the disk to data recovery centre.. they have much better tools.. and can even disassemble the disk and read platters. However now you are in the cost of $1000+

AND recovery of the sparsebundle is not easy at all.. it has to be totally intact to be worthwhile. Unlike direct file copy where recovery can get some files.. the sparsebundle is storing all the files in a compact bunch of bands.. and if any of it is corrupt then it all is.

I therefore tend to say the last step is NOT viable.. You could be lucky.. but whichever way you will pay for it.

Nov 7, 2017 3:02 PM in response to Dauad

very conforting

Confronting .. or comforting.. Not sure which I am trying to do.

Tik, Tik Tick tock .. the bomb like timer.. is usually hunting track1.. from your previous experience I would say power it on.. in the enclosure.. just for a few seconds.. if it does the same.. power off and send to data recovery.

If you can get past track 1 there is some hope of getting data off as happened the last time you were successful.

any couple of thousand dollars I could spend in it.... It is expensive, **** yea... but my data is worth it...

Even when you spend the $1000 and get nothing?? Unfortunately what you get is often too mangled to be much use except for plain text files.

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Recovering data from a "internal disk needs repair" Time Capsule error