Spotlight gives "Privacy List Error"

Question

Level 2

182 points

Spotlight gives "Privacy List Error"

I cannot use Spotlight on Leopard at all. adding volumes to Privacy gives the following error:

"Privacy List Error

The item couldn't be added or removed because of an unknown error"

This build of Leopard came on my MacPro 8-core released in Jan 08. I have searched here and found much discussion about forcing re-indexing using the terminal and adding and removing items from Privacy. I have tried them ALL. Terminal returns "No index" when I try "sudo mdutil -E /" or on any other mounted volumes.

I have downloaded Cocktail and tried to erase indices from there. Every volume returns the following Cocktail error:

"Unable to detect Spotlight indexing status [volume name] is not accessible, read-only or mdutil is not working properly."

Any ideas?

MacPro 2 x 2.8 Ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 4 GB RAM, Pro Tools|HD, Logic Pro, Nuendo

Posted on Mar 28, 2008 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Community User

Nov 7, 2017 7:32 AM in response to Daniel Pinder

The Privacy List Error can be solved by doing the following:

*SHORT VERSION*
Delete this file:

.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Exclusions.plist

and then restart the Finder.

*LONG VERSION*
1. Download and install TinkerTool (find it via Google).
2. Run TinkerTool and check the box for "Show hidden and system files" (it's the very first option).
3. Click "Relaunch Finder" at the bottom of the TinkerTool menu.
4. Open a Finder window showing your boot drive.
5. Navigate to the previously invisible folder ".Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/" and trash the file inside it called "Exclusions.plist".
6. Restart the Finder.
7. Open TinkerTool and uncheck the "Show hidden and system files" box to set things back to normal.

It sounds like you might have some other problems with Spotlight as well, though.

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Answer 2

Nov 7, 2017 7:32 AM in response to h82w8

Please give more details. If I understand correctly you deleted the Spotlight preference file to fix your Privacy List error, and now all your volumes are listed as "Not Supported"? In that case drag the preference file back from the Trash (unless you've already deleted it).

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Answer 3

Nov 7, 2017 7:32 AM in response to skiplongfellow

The first thing I'd try would be to run repair permissions (the old standby) in Disk Utility in case that's any help for the admin password issue, then download the 10.5.2 combo updater and re-install it in case that fixes Spotlight (and the admin issue).

You could try the Spotlight fixes suggested here, but again, if you can't enter your admin password it sounds like you might have a different problem.

Out of interest, if you create a new user does Spotlight work in that account? That could help narrow it down.

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Answer 4

Mar 31, 2008 3:31 PM in response to Daniel Pinder

I'm having almost the same problem.

Spotlight can't find anything except for applications, even though all data categories are enabled in the spotlight preference panel.

I also get the "Privacy List Error" ("... The item couldn't be added or removed because of an unknown error") when I try to to drag&drop stuff into the privacy list window.

😟

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Answer 5

h82w8

Level 1

10 points

Apr 5, 2008 9:49 AM in response to Community User

This doesn't work. All of my volumes are listed as "Not Supported" for Spotlight. Funny, as they were last week.

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Answer 6

Daniel Pinder Author

Level 2

182 points

Apr 13, 2008 1:36 PM in response to Community User

When I show the invisible V100 folder, it shows the "insufficient priviledges" icon. I cannot open the folder, even though I'm the sole admin.

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Answer 7

Daniel Pinder Author

Level 2

182 points

Apr 13, 2008 2:04 PM in response to Daniel Pinder

deleting the entire folder did the trick—thanks!

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Answer 8

Nov 7, 2017 7:32 AM in response to Daniel Pinder

Cheers - glad it solved the problem.

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Answer 9

Apr 21, 2008 5:33 PM in response to Community User

Help. I have tried deleting the hidden Spotlight folder per above suggestions, and now it acts as though Spotlight won't even function.

I have tried to fix THAT problem with the following ( http://osxdaily.com/2007/03/22/how-to-completely-disable-spotlight/) and cannot get any of these to work. To be fair, I can't try the Terminal suggestion, as Terminal refuses to allow me to enter my admin password. Weird.

Anyway, two brand new machines, one a fresh-out-of-the-box install and Spotlight broken on both. Besides a reinstall, any ideas how to reinstate my (hidden) Spotlight folders and fix the 'Privacy List Error' I get every time I try to drag a volume to the Spotlight>Privacy tab.

Frustrating having a new machine that won't allow a basic Finder search.

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