Spotlight doesn't find stuff - why?

[stimpycat]

Hello - I recently lost some bookmarks in firefox. I know these are stored somewhere with the filename bookmarks.html so I searched with spotlight to locate it

It brings up no results - I have 2 HD's but have it set on 'search my mac' which is both of them.

I can locate the file myself through users>library>application support etc but is there a reason spotlight can't find it? I have my preferences set to show everything.

 

[heatmiser]

Apple decided to Think Different™ and cripple Spotlight in Leopard. Among other things, it no longer searches inside the Library.

 

[xUKHCx]

Spotlight doesn't search through system folders by default you have to tell it each time you search to do so.

Yup there is but it's still pretty annoying. Apple should have it on by default.

Step 1: Go to the Finder Search (Command + F or File > Find)

Step 2: Click on the "Kind" drop-down menu and click on other.
Note: If you don't see this pop up button, then make click on the "+" button right after Save.

Step 3: You'll see a dialog pop up and find System files. Once there, select the checkbox. Now go back to the search Window by clicking on the OK button.

Step 4 Make sure that the System files is selected in the first drop down menu. Now proceed to the Second drop down menu and select "include".

Now you can search for all your system files but don't expect for this to work with spotlight. Furthermore, you'll have to manually do this every time (only step 4 actually) you wish to search for something in your system. Hope this helps!

 

[Eidorian]

Spotlight doesn't search through system folders by default you have to tell it each time you search to do so.

Annoying as hell. I really miss this from Tiger!

 

[poppe]

I know it's an old thread, but maybe you guys can help me. I use spotlight as an application launcher except it no longer sees Firefox. What would change so that it doesn't see that app?

Even finder refuses to find Firefox.

 

[Eidorian]

Is FireFox still otherwise alive and well in the directory you have it in?

 

[GGJstudios]

I know it's an old thread, but maybe you guys can help me. I use spotlight as an application launcher except it no longer sees Firefox. What would change so that it doesn't see that app?

Even finder refuses to find Firefox.

You may need to re-index your hard drive.

 

[poppe]

You may need to re-index your hard drive.

Gonna try this out. I will let you know.

UPDATE: No luck on this one. Tried it but nothing. I tried something as well that de-indexed everything in spotlight. I had to go into terminal to do that, but for some reason it won't reindex now...

Is FireFox still otherwise alive and well in the directory you have it in?

Yeah all the apps are sitting in the application folder. Now the only thing spotlight finds is dictionary stuff...

- - -

UPDATE 2: There we go. I forced it back into indexing with the terminal command:

sudo mdutil -i on /