Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

24 points

Spotlight not working

Nothing shows up in the index. When I tried to force index by adding my hard drive to the exclusion area and then removing it - it wouldn't let me add my hard drive - either said I didn't have permission or that there was an error. Any ideas appreciated.

Andrew

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), iOS 8.3

Posted on Jul 7, 2015 5:18 AM

25 replies

Jul 2, 2016 5:33 PM in response to Linc Davis

I've tried and tried to get the folder containing Spotlight V100 to a situation I could delete it! It doesn't show in column view either. I tried to find a way to show invisibles, like I could in Pathfinder in the past, but haven't been able to do so at this point.

Eric Root

Level 10

684,117 points

Jul 3, 2016 9:47 AM in response to Couchcowboy

See if you can find the file(s) using one of these programs. If you go Finder/View/Show Path Bar, it will show you where it is located.

EasyFind – Spotlight Replacement

Find Any File

notcloudy

Level 4

1,252 points

Jul 3, 2016 10:07 AM in response to reizen

reizen wrote:

Nothing shows up in the index. When I tried to force index by adding my hard drive to the exclusion area and then removing it - it wouldn't let me add my hard drive - either said I didn't have permission or that there was an error. Any ideas appreciated.

Andrew

Out of curiosity - how long did you wait between steps -- the spotlight activity you see in activity monitor is your system indexing your stuff - problem is you don't know what order its doing it in and how long it will take -- so you may have to end all applications - go off internet - and watch the activity monitor while it does the job.

I dumped Spotlight (all my drives are private) after I realized it was part of a freeze up problem I was having (didn't need it as I know where my stuff is).

Jul 3, 2016 10:16 AM in response to Eric Root

Thanks again, Eric, for helping! I can find the location of the file. It's on my Macintosh HD, just can't see it. Was wondering if I could just change it's permissions, since I can open an info window on Spotlight-V100? It shows that "system" is the only thing with read/write privileges. I wonder if I added either myself or "Administrators" to the read/write list, if that would make it show up?

In the meantime, I'll download EasyFind. I've used it in the past, but started using Spotlight primarily.

Jul 3, 2016 10:36 AM in response to Eric Root

I tried to edit my last post, but "content could not be saved. Please try again in a few moments" kept popping up! AAAArGH! Here's what I tried to change it to: Thanks again, Eric, for helping! I downloaded EAsyFind and it finds lots of .Spotlight files on my hard drive that all begin with com.apple.Spotlight. either plists or axbundle or indexagent.plist, shortcuts, etc.! After searching for invisible files, it then showed the Spotlight-V100 folder. I click delete on the header or "move to trash" on command clicking, it still shows it in the Macintosh HD folder. I haven't tried the "Destroy" option yet. Would that be OK?

Eric Root

Level 10

684,117 points

Jul 4, 2016 10:08 AM in response to Couchcowboy

You are welcome. "Destroy option? I've never seen that.

Trash – Can’t Empty or Move File To Trash

Trash FAQ

Jul 14, 2016 4:12 AM in response to Eric Root

Once again, Eric, I didn't see your post until just now. The "destroy" option was on the EasyFind menu. I assume it's a secure delete option (which I guess I shouldn't use since I have a Fusion Drive).