HT204014: Mac Basics: Spotlight helps you find what you're looking for
Learn about Mac Basics: Spotlight helps you find what you're looking for
Q: Spotlight Issues on Mac OS X 10.10.4.
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Jul 3, 2015 4:38 AMby ZedVal,One more question, please. Could the above mentioned issue be connected with what I obtained from the Disk Utility report (ARDAgent.app = Apple Remote Data Agent?)?
Warning: SUID file “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent” has been modified and will not be repaired.
Does it suggest that somebody may be remotely controlling my computer using this app?
Thank you, Zed
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Jul 3, 2015 10:05 AMby ZedVal,- What exactly are you doing? Just trying to use Spotlight Search ...
- and what exactly happens when it doesn't work? When I search anything online (say e.g. "Apple Stocks" without the quotes, etc.) I only get local results such as searched files on a HD, I may even get searches from my e-mail, but that is also local, I assume. So I can do everything in Spotlight which is just local, even the math calculations under 10.10.4. and searching the files on local HD ... When I search "Apple Stocks" the search result is obtained only for the following categories: Top Hit (ii) DOCUMENTS (iii) FOLDERS (iv) PDF Documents (v) Mail & Messages (vi) Events & Reminders (vii) OTHER (viii) DEVELOPER.
- Has it ever worked? YES, that is why it is so annoying! I think it worked with Lion and Mountain Lion, but it stopped working on Mavericks. I was then able to use the Flashlight app as a workaround, but this update 10.10.4. killed it as well ... Even though you update the Flashlight app it does not work at all anymore.
- Have you checked your settings in the Spotlight preference pane to make sure Bing searching is enabled? YES, this is all fine.
- Can you search Bing in a web browser? YES, I can!
Thanks, Zed
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Jul 3, 2015 10:20 AMby Linc Davis,Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
Step 1
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.
Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your documents or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this behavior; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.
Step 2
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Please take this step regardless of the results of Step 1.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem.
Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of Steps 1 and 2.
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Jul 7, 2015 5:36 AMby ZedVal,Hi Linc,
Step 1: Logging as guest did not make any difference. I have previously disabled guest accounts because I thought it could compromise my account and now I disabled it again after this trial.
Step 2: To my great surprise I found that I cannot start the comp with having the extensions disabled (i.e. having the Shift key pressed down). I have disconnected my fast backup disk which has a wired connection. Anyway, the progress bar after the start up with pressed Shift key gets somewhere in the middle and there it stops, machine is boiling like if all CPU and ports are being used simultaneously and I had to shut down the comp by force. I did this three times in a row. I know from the past that disabling extensions should be simple, but here it appears that some changes have been applied to my computer at the native software level (Apple) as I cannot even start my comp with having extensions disabled.
Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Zed
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Jul 7, 2015 7:18 AMby ZedVal,Hi Linc,
Finally I was able to log in with the extensions disabled (I had to release the Shift key and wait a while!) but the problem with Spotlight remains.
All searches made with Spotlight are performed only locally, local functions including the file searches, math and units conversions work just fine.
Any thoughts? What about this ARDAgent issue which would not be fixed by the Disk Utility (using permissions repair). May I simply have permissions to search online disabled at the system level using this agent so that even though you disable extensions this problem would not be fixed since that is at the system level?
Thanks, Zed.
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Jul 7, 2015 8:08 AMby Topher Kessler,Go to the Spotlight system preferences. In here under the Search Results tab, do you have the "Allow Spotlight Suggestions in Spotlight and Look up" checkbox checked? If so then try toggling it off and then back on, but if not then try just turning this on. After this, see if Spotlight will provide Internet search results. In addition, make sure "Spotlight Suggestions" is checked in the "Search Results" tab.
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Jul 8, 2015 12:37 PMby Linc Davis,If you don't already have a current backup, back up all data, then reinstall the OS.* You don't need to erase the startup volume, and you won't need the backup unless something goes wrong. If the system was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you may need the Apple ID and password you used.
There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional. Ask if you need guidance.
If you installed the Java runtime distributed by Apple and still need it, you'll have to reinstall it. The same goes for Xcode. All other data will be preserved.
*The linked support article refers to OS X 10.10 ("Yosemite"), but the procedure is the same for OS X 10.7 ("Lion") and later.
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Jul 16, 2015 11:11 AMby Drew Reece,The ARD message is not an error…
Mac OS X: Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions messages that you can safely ignore - Apple Support
ARD = Apple Remote Desktop.
It is built in & used for remote access if it is turned off in 'System Preferences > Sharing, Screen Sharing or Remote management' you have nothing to worry about, Spotlight is failing for some other reason.
Maybe this is silly but it is worth checking…
Do you have Bing searches enabled in the Spotlight results section of the Preferences? By default it is shown at the bottom of searches which means it will be out of view in most results windows.
