[Spotlight] Not searching through my entire laptop?

[loisd]

Hi guys,

Often, when I type a filename in Spotlight, it does not find it, although I am 100% sure the file exists.

Is this normal? Can it be corrected?

Many thanks,

Lois

 

[arjen92]

are you really that sure, no just kidding. But I do have the same thing sometimes thinking I had a file, but named it a little bit different or used a space. But I suggest you look in system preferences to see if any category isn't turned on, or that some places aren't searched (second tab)

 

[loisd]

Thanks for your reply.
All categories are ticked, and no folder is non-searchable (second tab).

.. What can I do?

 

[Consultant]

Repair Permissions
Repair Disk
Get ONYX and reset the database

 

[loisd]

Is this through the system preferences?

 

[themoonisdown09]

Is this through the system preferences?

"Repair Permissions" and "Repair Disk" are located at Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility

OnyX is 3rd party software that you have to download and install.

 

[loisd]

Thank you for this.

I could not find in which Onyx tab can I reset the database. Would someone be able to point it out to me?

 

[Consultant]

Under Maintenance there are a few tabs, look under the tabs to see something with spotlight.

 

[JediMeister]

There is a way to reindex Spotlight but it still will not parse through files in /Library or /System or ~/Library. Also note that Mac OS X Server automatically has Spotlight disabled, not that it seems you're running that OS.

 

[loisd]

Hi guys,

My Mac OS X version is 10.5.7.

I've reindex Spotlight through OnyX. I have tried to do it the Apple way as well (dragging in and out a folder in the privacy tab). Still, when I am looking for a file in my normal folders (Users>MyName>...), it does not appear.

Could it be because I have activated FireVault?

Thanks for your help again.

Lois