PianomanDave
Level 1 (42 points)
Mac OS X

Q: How to Reset Spotlight?

Spotlight seems to be locked in a neverending loop.  When I go to Spotlight I get the message.

Screen shot 2012-11-18 at 6.51.49 PM.png

It has been like this for about 5 days.

 

I have rebooted the computer, but Spotlight stays in this mode.

 

The name "David Matz's MacBook Pro 17" (2)" is the Computer name in the Sharing Preferences.

My computer drive has two major partitions - one for MacOS called "MacBook Pro 10.6.8" and another for Winows OS called "Bootcamp".

 

I have dragged the "Macbook Pro 10.6.8" icon into the Privacy Preference for Spotlight to try to stop the indexing, but nothing changes. I don't have an icon with the name "David Matz's MacBook Pro 17" (2)".

 

How can I turn Spotlight OFF and reset it?

 

Thanks.

Posted on Nov 19, 2012 9:27 AM

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PianomanDave

Q: How to Reset Spotlight?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Nov 19, 2012 10:42 AM in response to PianomanDave
    Level 8 (38,029 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 19, 2012 10:42 AM in response to PianomanDave

    A real easy way is to open the System Preferences and click on Spotlight, then the Privacy tab. Drag your drive icon from the desktop into the window. The OS will instantly stop trying to index and delete what's there. Then highlight the drive and remove it from the list by clicking the - button. Spotlight will start over building a new database.

  • by PianomanDave,

    PianomanDave PianomanDave Nov 19, 2012 2:06 PM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 19, 2012 2:06 PM in response to Kurt Lang

    This answer was close, but it doesn't quite work. In another post of mine called Spotlight, it was suggested to drag the drives to the Privacy section, then reboot. This worked to stop the indexing.  Then removing the folders that I wanted indexed from the Privacy section restarted the indexing and all seemed to work well.

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Nov 19, 2012 2:42 PM in response to PianomanDave
    Level 8 (38,029 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 19, 2012 2:42 PM in response to PianomanDave

    Try solution #2 on this page.