Time Capsule question

I just bought an apple Time Capsule and started using it last night, router and switch works great, but can I use that as an external harddrive, because I tried to transfer files from my laptop to time capsule but it always gives me errors saying that the device is disconnected and whatnot. Anyone got any words on how to use it as an external harddrive freely? By the way, I use it on my Windows 7. Thanks

 

A better statement, seems like that I can transfer files about 2GB from my pc to TC, but anything big, like 32GB file and it would give me a pop up window saying that connection to TC is lost or some like that, what the hell? And the normal file transfer rate is about 6Mb/sec or did i not set it up correctly?

 

Hah its your lucky day. I work for Apple Care and I specialize in just that product.. The horrid Time Capsule. When you install Airport utility and use base station agent to mount and Map the Time Capsule volume your actually also installing drivers on the PC that allows the PC to resize or Read & Write to a HSF+ volume.

I would try and go with an ethernet connection. Let me know what happens then. You shouldn't be transferring a lot of data wirelessly anyway its not very logical.

 

P/S I'm half trolling here.

Ok I feel the need to explain how a Time Capsule really works because there is lots of people that get confused

Time Capsule is formatted as Fat32 and uses SMB (Server Message Block) for access. In which case Windows Machines ( And Mac's ) don't have to be concerned about file system because the file exchange or writing and reading rather is done through a network mount.

Remember it is the file system not the OS that will restrict the file sizes.. So basically even though the PC will see the Time Capsule has a Fat32 format they're not limited to the file size if the host can support it which the Time Capsule can. In addition the Time Capsule really is a horrible product and I would advise to get ride of it..

1. Try using an ethernet wire when transferring large amounts of Data..
2. Re install Airport utility followed by factory restoring the Time Capsule.
3. Call Apple Care.

 

Im going to second Airsinner, get a good wireless router and a proper NAS unit perferably one with a RAID for redundancy, NO backup device should rely on a single consumer grade hard drive.

 

Okay, so I when tried to transfer a large file wirelessly it failed obviously and now I tried to transfer it with an ethernet cable with wireless function disable and it still doesn't work completely, it still showed that Z drive which is the TC would be disconnected somehow and it would transfer majority of the file but not all of it. this is getting really frustrating, anybody got any suggestion or thought? I just want this damned thing as a router and an external harddrive.

 

okay, i found a way around that after doing more research, in order for your TC to be utilized as an external on windows 7, you have to disable Window's Search, idk how the hell that applies, but whatever works i guess.

Now I have another question. There's an open wireless here at my workplace but I was wondering if I can use my TC to pick up the signal and pretty much using it as a router/switch on the open wireless that's supplied from elsewhere, is that possible?

 

I dont believe the TC has any bridging or repeating capability but can look into it as I am currently dismaltling another one

 

You can't set it up via Dynamic WDS on a 3rd party network. You can only really have it join to a 3rd party router as a client but thats about it. If you had another Airport it could extend but its not recommened because it really should be the primary base station on any given network.

 

The Time Capsule is such a bad product that I wouldn't use one even if I got it for free.. Apple really needs to discontinue the Time Capsule.

 

Want my stack of FUBAR ones too?

 

Absolutely not. If I was given 2 TB Dual Band II model I would't accept it.. I would consider it an insult and a Duel might begin.. Lol.. Get it? Dual... Duel...

Yeah...

 

ROFLMAO, I hear you, I have a few of those too. and enough .5 and 1T units to fill a van.

and if we have a duel will it be TC's with a 6' Cat cable for a handle at 10 paces?. They may be good for the hammer throw for grade school kids