Spotlight not working correctly

Looks like other people have had this App Store problem who did not delete /var/folders. I deleted the app, and was allowed to reinstall it with the same account, and it still has the original purchase date intact. *shrug* Another bug.

Hi guys,

my iMac has completed indexing!!!

It token about 3 full days.

For my Mac Book, I think that if I leave it stay turned on for further days, would be possible that it also finish, but unfortunately I use it at work and I turn it on/off every day, so it begin indexing at every switch.

About midimporter, in folder I've only default and no other, so I don't think that is the problem.

I know I'll sound like a complete moron, nevertheless -- what is Sandbox?

Google;s your friend: search for os x sandbox.

Anyway, blowing away the folders in /var/folders, then rebooting, and then either 'mdutil -E /' or adding your Mac OS volume in privacy to prevent searches, then promptly removing it, appears to fix the problem. For me.

And, it appears for me too! (Mac Pro 1.1) I have multiple Apple ID's but have noticed (so far) nothing detrimental and Spotlight indexing is back to its normal speed.

Will turn Time Machine on shortly and see how that behaves.

Hi, did you toke a look to the content before deleting /var/folder ?

This is mine:

MacBookDasty:~ dcobianc$ ls /var/folders/*

/var/folders/b5:

c2mktw9j7zn0ql1z8l13s33c0000gn

/var/folders/zz:

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000000000000 zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000s0000068

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000004000001 zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000s800006_

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n000003800000t zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000sm00006d

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000084000021 zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000t800006k

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000b000002r zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000th00006m

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000b400002s zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000tm00006n

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000bh00002w zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000vr00006y

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000c4000031 zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_ngzzzzzvzzzzzy

I didn't delete it at moment on my mac book: I'm waiting for any other user confirmations about it is a definitive solution.

Thanks.

Seems that Christopher's solution (removing /var/folder) worked here!

No idea what else might be affected by emptying that folder though...

Thank you!

Carlo

Worked for me too. And Time Machine worked afterwards, even with Spotlight on.

Just testing backup over a network now. It looks as if it was slower than with Spotlight off, but I will have to investigate further. It could be just that Spotlight has started indexing one of my backup drives...

Edit. yet it was Spotlight indexing the backup. I put the drive on the private list, and Time Machine is working perfectly.

I deleted mine, rebooted and the /var/folders/ have been recreated but Spotlight and Time Machine now work...

Mac-Pro:zz boldfish$ ls /var/folders/*

/var/folders/3v:

5720z9ws6x3249s8msqkmv8w0000gn

/var/folders/5t:

_8979vd94154c3_1rrx_z09h0000gq

/var/folders/yk:

748237l10_d7fhf36vy14_v40000gp

/var/folders/zz:

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000000000000 zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000b400002s zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000s800006_ zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000tm00006n

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n000003800000t zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000bh00002w zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000sm00006d zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000vr00006y

zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000084000021 zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000c4000031 zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000th00006m

Thank you Chris,

worked very fine for my Mac Book Pro: in half hour spotlight is full indexed!!

This night I'll try also form mi iMac that was indexed in 3 full days.

All of this did the trick:

Disabling Spotlight

Deleting existing index

Deleting /var/folders/*

Re-enabling Spotlight

Thanks a lot. This was blocking my TM backup. It now works... until when ?

To all:

File a bug reportwith Apple and include what you did. Hopefully, that'll get into 10.8.3 or an 10.8.2 v1.1 update.

baltwo wrote:

File a bug reportwith Apple and include what you did. Hopefully, that'll get into 10.8.3 or an 10.8.2 v1.1 update.

Well, we're all hoping it will actually be in 10.7.6 since this is a Lion issue. 🙂

Thanks for catching the brain fart.😊

So far, Christopher Murphy's /var/ folder deletion is working for me, and I hope it keeps working, otherwise you will be correct baltwo in that I would have to bail to Mountain Lion to get this fixed sooner.

I don't know about Mountain Lion. My son's computer doesn't seem to be backing up with Time Machine on 10.8.2.

I might try this on it as well...