Timecapsule has given up the ghost :-(

Hello everyone,

Last night my Timecapsule must have failed and is now non operational, basically the front light is not on, there is no noise inside from either the hard drive or the power transformer. This would suggest to me the transformer is at fault, and I note that from forums that there is a fault with the original production Timecapsule which mine is.

Problem is it is out of warranty and I have no other apple computer product with a current warranty that it could be fixed under. When I phoned the local reseller and computer repair shop they indicated that the transformer and other electronics are all integrated, thus it is a case of a whole unit replacement (internals wise).

My options would seem to be:
1) write a letter to Apple to see if they will fix it free out of warranty as there is a common fault in the early production model, two years for something to go bust that is meant to be a back up device is not good. Some out of warranty have had theirs fixed. If Apple should fix it and do indeed replace the innards, do I still keep my hard drive? there is actually a lot of my work backed up on there and given I where I work this would not be too cool if it were not destroyed (and no I don't mean there is porn on there!).
2) Wait until I purchase my next apple iMac and get the Timecapsule fixed under its warranty.
3) Bin the Timecapsule. If I bin it am I able to plug any standard stand alone USB harddrive to the computer to use with timemachine to do backups?
4) How feasible is it to take it to the local electronics repair shop and ask them to trace the blown component and replace it thus getting my old Timecapsule up and running again?

What are peoples thoughts on this matter? Is my fault diagnosing sound right, what option sounds the best way to go? Any thoughts?

Ta, Shomenno

 

Thought I had better post an update on this old post of mine. Indeed the TimeCapsule was faulty, I found on the net the power supply was a known issue they were sometimes fixing out of warranty. So, called Apple via toll free number, the guy I spoke to was super friendly and in turn after talking to someone above him gave me a reference number and asked me to take it to the nearest Apple Dealer and they would cover it!

So all love and roses here as Apple came through. Must say it sure did make me feel warm about buying Apple products, great to know that quality extends from the machines to their support ethos.

Thank you Apple

Shomenno