Why Won't Mavericks Index My External Hard Drive?

It's probably because of the WD software that's on the drive.

I'd copy the files to another (non-WD) drive, erase that drive, uninstall any WD "utilities" that are on your internal drive, and then put the files back on your WD. Then the indexing will work.

I suspect it is WD responsibility to fix their software and not Apple.

I'd look for an uninstaller on the WD website, or google it. Don't know about the flash drive issue.

I'm having the same problem, also have a WD External HD has been endlessly trying to index in spotlight since I upgraded to Maverick. I totally disagree that this is a WD problem. Apple used to flaunt how "compatible" their computers are with other devices-- remember the comercials of Windows users having to scoure the web for updates and drivers, while the Mac user just plugs in a device that works seemlessly? Apple dropped the ball on this one and needs to fix it pronto in my opinion. I should not be expected to by new devices everytime OSX comes out with an upgrade. I call BullS@#t on this one.

"I suspect it is WD responsibility to fix their software and not Apple."

I would just like to join this discussion, as I am having the exact same issue with my new external drive. Mine is not a WD though, it is a Buffalo drive (which i think is actually a seagate drive inside).

There is no pre-installed software on the drive, it is totally formatted for the mac.

The problem is definitly with the OS, not the drive itself, and it is Apple who have totally dropped the ball on this.

At the moment the only solution is to set up a series of terminal commands in applescript, (or you can enter them manually each time) to wipe the spotlight index from the drive. You will have to do this every day or two.

It is not an ideal solution, and I am hoping apple ends up actually fixing this.

Just to help you out in case you want to go this route, the terminal commands are:

sudo mdutil -i off /Volumes/'name of your drive'

sudo mdutil -E /Volumes/'name of your drive'

cd /Volumes/'name of your drive'

sudo rm -fr .Spotlight-V100

sudo mdutil -i on /Volumes/'name of your drive'

If you have any problems, I'll try and help. I would put links to the forum where I sorted this solution, or the places where I got this answer from, but I dont think I'm allowed to post links to other sites on here... if I'm wrong let me know and I'll put up the links.

Hope this helps!

This seems to be working for me as well : "Go to Spotlight preferences and into Privacy, add your hardrive to the list where you don't want Spotlight to search, then remove it, and Spotlight would begin the correct index and state a time." Thanks to the person who discovered this. So far it's been three days without a problem. But, I have not rebooted my iMac or disconnected the drive in this time... not sure what will happen if I do.

Thanks DJS. Problem solved.

This is why the "Adding and removing drive from spotlight privacy" solution was never actually a fix, cos it doesnt work past a reboot or a disconect/reconnect.

My solution does seem to work past a reboot, but it only lasts a few days at best before the problem comes back again.

Thanks!

Been surfing discussions here there and everywhere today... as my CPU got gobbled up and my temperature readings went off the chart...

Your solution WORKED!

Can't thank you enough!

Cheers,

Cat

Will Wd or Apple be paying for all the people's recovery of data?

"Will Wd or Apple be paying for all the people's recovery of data?"

Neither? The issue we are discussing here doesn't cause loss of data... I'm guessing you replied here without reading the OP properly