Spotlight missing files/folders/apps

Question

Level 1

0 points

Spotlight missing files/folders/apps

Not sure why, but spotlight has started missing files/folder/apps from searches.

I have tried rebuilding the index using all the sudo commands, and third party apps like Onxy with no success. I have also deleted the .plist file- still with no luck.

Spotlight will find some folder/files within a directory, but not others in the same dir. App have started not showing up now too.

Any help or advice is appreciated as this is causing productivity problems at work now!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 11:37 AM

Reply

Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Jan 25, 2011 2:10 PM in response to mawelby

Delete the entire Spotlight directory and reindex:

*sudo rm -R /.Spotlight-V100*

*sudo mdutil -i on /*

*sudo mduitl -E /*

Reply

Answer 2

mawelby Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 25, 2011 10:26 PM in response to baltwo

Thanks Baltwo but already tried that:

"I have tried rebuilding the index using all the sudo commands, and third party apps like Onxy with no success. I have also deleted the .plist file- still with no luck."

Any other suggestions?

Reply

Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Jan 25, 2011 10:55 PM in response to mawelby

I read it, but there's nothing in the mdutil manpage about blowing away the entire Spotlight directory. That's why it leads the pack. Alternatively, boot with the install disc, select your language, select Terminal from the Utilities menu in the next window, and do this command:

*sudo rm -R /Volumes/"name of original boot volume"/.Spotlight-V100*

quit the Terminal app, and reinstall Snow Leopard. See if that fixes the issue.

Reply

Answer 4

mawelby Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 26, 2011 3:12 AM in response to baltwo

Will give this a try later on today.

Just one question: what should I put for 'name of original boot volume'? I have a Macbook pro running OSX10.6.4 with all directories as standard.

Many thanks

Reply

Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Jan 26, 2011 10:10 AM in response to mawelby

Whatever you've named your boot volume, without the quotes. Note that Apple automatically names it *Macintosh HD*, but most users change it to something meaningful. Mine is named SnowLeo.

Reply