Level 1

4 points

Spotlight and finder have stopped finding my files + Time Machine has stopped working as well.

Hello everybody,

A couple weeks ago I noticed my iMac initiated a indexing of my HD, and ever since, spotlight (and finder search cmd+f) have stopped finding some of my files, which is really enoying as I am now losing a lot of time looking for them manually. For example, see screenshot below:

Spotlight couldn't find Disk Utility (nothing is unchecked in spotlight prefs.), though it's there in my Apps folder.

Another example, using cmf+f this time.

I looked for "heures sacha baptista" and Finder could only find 2 files (right), but manually (left), I found 9; see below :

Coincidentally, ever since that re-indexing, my time machine has stopped working as well... Now, when I initiate a backup, it says "preparing" for about 5 seconds, then suddenly stops, and nothing is happening.

Please, does anyone have any idea what's going on here?

Thanks a lot for your help and your time!

Imac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 6, 2015 2:09 AM

31 replies

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 16, 2015 2:03 AM in response to Lexiepex

Ok so I totally erased the disk, re formatted it. My partitions were called WD and the other one Backups. Before erasing, I transfered all the content of WD on another external HD (let's call it BB) because I can't lose that data.

When the formatting was done, I re-created my 2 partitions (because as for now, I don't have any other alternative), and named them the same, but without putting the content back on WD. So then, as both my partitions are empty, I initiated a backup including only the content of the computer and my Lacie HD, and it worked!! It backed up everything.

At this moment, feeling optimistic, I re-transferred the content I had previously moved from WD to BB (before formatting) back on WD. And deleted it from BB.

When I was totally sure that it was fully transferred, I emptied the trash... but it wouldn't empty. Normally it says "preparing xx files" or something similar, but this time, it didn't say anything. When I re-clicked on it, it said the trash couldn't be opened as it was deleting files... After waiting a long time, seeing that it was still not working, I restarted the computer, and this time I initiated a Secure Empty trash. It said "preparing 4 elements" and got stuck there.

At this moment, I decided to move all that from the trash back BB and delete it from another computer, which worked.

After all those troubles deleting a couple files, I was excited about TM working again and initiated a backup including the WD partition... and it stopped working!

So the problem comes from there, but I don't know what causes it exactly. Nor do I know how to prevent or fix it.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Nov 16, 2015 3:44 AM in response to Sacha_Music

I was away nad have sparse time.

Not sure about the issue, i'll ask some more assistance....

For now my thinking

- hardware: the WD disk is OK; no WD software (should be) installed; when used for TM, format 1 partition only may avoid issues.

I do not trust the Lacie very much (age -not mine but the disk's 😁-, and my experiences).

I do not think the hardware when fomatted correctly could cause this.

- Emptying the trash can take a very long time when there is Backup.Backupd in it (a long long list of "connected" files...).

When necessary I will give you the Terminal command to empty the trash quickly and irrevocable. We do that when it all is solved...

Lex

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Nov 16, 2015 11:44 AM in response to Sacha_Music

Lex asked I drop in. 🙂

At this point I think we're dealing with some Hardware problem, tough to tell what exactly, but Repairing the Disk & reformatting only covers a few sectors of any drive or partition, mainly the Directories.

I also think that is the cause of the original problem(s).

If you can get Intech's SpeedTools Pro v3.7, it has a bad Sector check...

Or if you can get AHT or ASD for your iMac you can test the RAM Memory.

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 17, 2015 11:55 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi,

Thanks BDAquafor joining the conversation. Unfortunately, v3.7 is not compatible with my OS (10.5), though, v3.5 seems to be. Does it do the same job? Does it only check if there are bad sectors or does it fix them as well?

LexSchelling, thanks for your reply. When I said I was emptying the trash, I meant emptying it from the content coming from BB (my other external drive). So, it was "normal" files.. not backup files. The backup ones were erased when I formatted the WD and Backups partitions.

Also, I understand using 2 partitions on a backup disk was not a brilliant idea, and believe me, I've learnt my lesson. Now, I'll try to go with BDAqua's idea. I think, in the end, I'll re-format that disk and I'll use it either 1) as a backup drive and buy another one to put the content I used to put on WD or 2) use it for WD's content and buy another one for my backups.

Considering the problems I've had, would you recommend option 1) or 2) ?

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Nov 18, 2015 12:18 AM in response to Sacha_Music

Always use the best you can get for TimeMachine, so 2).

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Nov 18, 2015 12:30 AM in response to Sacha_Music

As for choosing a disk: I post a piece of tekst by another experienced helper:

"Per some published disk stats, some WD and Seagate have had disk issues, compared to other varieties.

I've a selection of those Seagate 7200.11 disks, and they didn't do well here, either.

The Hitachi-legacy disks — HGST, and which are owned by WD — have seemingly had somewhat better longevity, on average".

(thank you MrHoffman).

In technical environments (large installation running permanently I use WD Black, but they are 3.5" and bare. Enclosement quality is also very important.

For my macbookpros I use 2TB WD Elements and they are good, my experiences with LaCie are bad.

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2015 12:59 AM in response to Lexiepex

Thank you for that. Then, there are disks that are powered by the computer (like the wd passport), disks that need an external source of electricity.. Some of those with an on/off switch, some without... what's your recommendation?

For some reason, if I am using one that needs an external source of power, I am more comfortable with an on/off switch than without.

Also, apparently there are some for Mac and some for Pc... what's the difference there? (example with WD)

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Nov 18, 2015 1:28 AM in response to Sacha_Music

The on/off switch to avoid. Important is to always "eject" before you disconnect.

Most portables do not need their own power source: some have, or some have a second connector to connect to a second USB connector on the mac. Since you have a desktop mac, it does not matter when you use a disk with its own power source, it is a stationary position.

I would avoid the WD Passport.

I have no experience with MyBook.

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Nov 18, 2015 9:57 AM in response to Sacha_Music

Hmmmm, they must've changed something, v 3.7 is shown running on 10.5.8 above, but 3.5 should do the same, & it can map out bad Sectors as well as test them.

If you decide to reformat, do a secure erase one pass to hit every Sector on the Drive.

LaCies & others were famous for bad PSUs years ago, caused everything from complete failure to hard to find problems just like yours, few really had noise though...

http://joemaller.com/1424/worst-component-ever/

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Nov 18, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Sacha_Music

I would not buy WD cased drives, the WD Blacks have been flawless for me, not so the Blues or Greens, haven't tried the Reds, HGST should be fine.

I recommend drives with external AC power, Bus powered ones can be problematic, most drives need 1,500 mw to start, where USB2 only provides 500 mw, hence you'll find drives that require 2 USB cords for power.

Best enclosures so far for me have been OWC's Mercury Elite 3.5" ones...

http://eshop.macsales.com/search/mercury+elite

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2015 12:26 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for those info! I'll go with that Mercury brand for sure.

Last question (for now...) apparently there are external drives for Mac and others for Pc (at least with WD.. see screen shot above). What's the difference?

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Nov 18, 2015 2:16 PM in response to Sacha_Music

Mostly just how they are formatted, NTFS for PCs & Mac OS Extended for Macs, though a few may have interfaces that are mostly Mac centric, like Firewire & Thunderbolt.

Nov 18, 2015 2:28 PM in response to Sacha_Music

Go to System Preferences > Spotlight > Click on the Privacy Tab. Is there anything listed under Privacy? If so, select the item and click the subtract button at the bottom of the screen. I would re-start the machine after removing the items from the privacy section.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Nov 18, 2015 11:49 PM in response to melvinmacman

are you sure you are in the right thread?

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2015 3:40 AM in response to Lexiepex

Hi again,

So I bought myself a brand new HD, 3To... The problem persists...

Time machine says the drive is Read only, though, when I check it in DiskUtility, it says read/write (see below)

So now, I have about 4To of free space I don't know what to do with... But it seems safe to say that the problem is coming from the computer itself, not form the HD.

Obviously I am not considering buying a new computer, I need this one be to fixed.

Any idea what's going on there?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Spotlight and finder have stopped finding my files + Time Machine has stopped working as well.