Why can't my spotlight find anything?

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Even if I go this long way I still cannot find many things. If I´m searching for a systemfile even in the library-folders to look for what version is installed - no way!

By default, Spotlight doesn't show files inside your OS. You could also do a more advanced search - use the Command + "F" keys to start a search. Make sure the "This Mac" is selected at the top of the search window. Choose the "Kind" dropdown and then the "Other" choice. A list will pop up. Scroll down the list until you get to "System" and place a check mark in the box on the right side.

This will add "System Files" to the list of search criteria's you can select from.

Now go back to the "Kind" dropdown and choose "System Files" as the search criteria and see if any more related files for your application show up. Their location will be shown at the bottom of the window.

You only have to add the criteria once.

Barry,

This didn't work for me either. Tried it twice but every time I search in my external HD the search takes place in the The Computer area.

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However, even when they're working correctly, both leave much to be desired in terms of actually doing what they're supposed to do. And that is unfortunate.

Since your problem isn't a bug or configuration problem you won't be able to fix it here. If the hardware, OS, or a program is working like it's supposed to then it appears that you will need to report your problem to Apple. They don't come here for tips but you still get a vote 🙂

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

What does work is to install Google's desktop search. It goes through the HD and the external drive too. An elegant solution to a vexing problem.

Finder uses Spotlight.

A series of Terminal commands to try, I want to make sure...
killall Finder
sudo -i
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE
/System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder
Then go to the top level of your hard drive and delete the folder called .Spotlight-V100.
Go to /Users/\[user\]/Library/Preferences/ and delete com.apple.spotlight.plist in each user's folder.
Go to /private/var/root/Library/Preferences and delete com.apple.spotlight.plist
Go back to Terminal.
press control-C.
Type killall Spotlight
rm -rf .Trash
Quit Terminal.
Open Disk Utility and do the repair functions on your disk.
Reboot.