In this instructable I'm going to show you how to crack this badboy open, remove your HD and rehouse it so that you can save at least a hundred bucks.
I bought my time capsule in '08 and it lasted longer than the 18 months many sites report to be the average lifespan. I did register it with timecapsuledead.org/, and that's where some of my research began.
Luckily Apple was kind enough to send me a new one(even though mine was out of warranty) and all they asked was that I send them my old one. Most people get this far and then fret because while getting a new one is great, their files are still on the old one. I can tell you firsthand your files are still there and still fine, the part that seems to break most often with time capsules is something related to power source. Mine went out when the power went out in my living room, but then never turned back on.
After politely explaining my predicament to apple, they re-arranged the order so that I could keep my old one, specifically to perform this experiment. Thank Apple!
I'm including my pics, much better pictures can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/24254876@N03/2300920529/in/set-72157604011791554/
And here are much better instructions here : www.applefritter.com/node/23907
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Signing UpStep 1: Take the rubber footing off.
After you get the foot off, remove all of the screws, be sure to get the ones hiding under the glue. If it's difficult at all to remove the metal sheet then you haven't gotten all of the screws. Once you've gotten all the screws, be careful not to snap the wire that connects the two sides.








































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This is a simple method of saving data. I have done it hundreds of times for clients (Putting hard drives into external cases that is) and I have never had a non cooled one fail on me yet. Seeing as i live in Tropical North Queensland Australia you would expect that they would fail beacuse of over heating but they don't.
Good instructable.
To help to get off the rubber backing, before beginning to peel it off, heat with a hair dryer. Continue to heat as you carefully peel the rubber back. This softens the glue, which allows it to come off much easier, usually without damage
Might be cheaper for people to buy a 1TB 3.5" and a housing than a time capsule.