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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Osx Tiger Cannot Search

robertstacey - May 30, 2005 - 1:48 pm

I'm trying to search for a folder on a G4 twin processor that I upgraded from OSX 10.3.9 to Tiger then to 4.1.

It ran fine under the old OSX but now when I try to do a Search it only finds stuff on the desktop and not on other volumes. I have the parameters set to check all volumes.

Technically savy.

Robert

paulogdenfletcher - May 30, 2005 - 2:00 pm

I'm not sure when you installed Tiger, but it usually takes up to 9 hours of searching your hard-drive before it has a complete database of all the files on your computer. Spotlight uses databases to provided the fast searching technique. I would give it some time before you try to search for something. We installed Tiger on our 2.3 GHz G5, and it tooks 3 hours of searching all the hard-drives we had. Once it was done, everything worked fine.

Thanks,
Paul Fletcher

robertstacey - May 30, 2005 - 2:22 pm

Thanks Paul,

I installed Tiger last Friday and updated to 4.1 right away.

Doesn't work with Find or Spotlight.

Robert

paulogdenfletcher - May 30, 2005 - 7:05 pm

I'm not sure on this question, I will re-open it in the tech pool.

Thanks,
Paul Fletcher

Cheryl - May 31, 2005 - 9:16 pm

Robert,

My name is Cheryl and I will be assisting you.

When you type in the Spotlight search field, it immediately starts to do the search with the first three letters you type. You will notice that the window changes to show the results of the find. You should also notice that right under the title bar you have an additional bar that has Server, Computer, Home, and others. Click on Home as this is where your documents should be saved.

You will also notice at the far right the Save button and a plus button. Clicking on the plus button will give you more options to help Spotlight search.

Since you just installed Tiger on Friday, it will take a while for Spotlight to catalog everything on your hard drive. Mine took about a week.



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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

robertstacey - Jun 1, 2005 - 6:17 am

Thanks Cheryl,

Still no joy on this.

No matter what I do it only searches on the one volume, (the Boot drive). even though I have all my Volumes checked off and have followed your instructions.

Now I have to go into Classic and use Sherlock to get the search done where it works just fine. I may have to drop back to the old version of OSX if I can't solve this.

I'm available toll free at 888 250 4456 in Toronto if you are able to talk by phone on this.

Regards,

Robert

Cheryl - Jun 1, 2005 - 7:28 am

Robert,

Go to your Home folder>Library>Preferences.
Trash the com.apple.spotlight.plist file

Now go to hard drive>Library>Preferences>Directory Services
Trash the following:

SearchNodeconfig.plist
SearchNodeConfigBackup.plist

Restart the computer, empty the trash. Now give it a try. Let me know what happens.

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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

robertstacey - Jun 1, 2005 - 9:27 am

OK Cheryl,

Tried that procedure.

No joy either.

Robert

Cheryl - Jun 1, 2005 - 5:33 pm

Robert,

Since we tried all the tricks, it is time to do an Archive and Preserve install. This will not touch your applications or home folder. It will install a fresh new system folder with all the components that goes with it - like Spotlight.

Start up from your Mac OS X 10.4 DVD.
Before you click on the installer screen, go to the Installer Menu and select Disk Utility.
When that opens, click on the second icon at the top left, then click on Repair Disk at the bottom far right.
Watch the activity screen. If it repairs anything, you will need to click on that button again. This is to make sure it finds all the problems and repairs them.
Now quit Disk Utility.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.

When that is done, you will need to restart the computer. You will notice a new folder called Previous system folder. Do not trash that until you know everything works.

Go to the Utilities folder and open Disk Utility to repair permissions clicking on the second icon at the left.

When done, quit Disk Utility and go to System Preferences>Software Update.

Have it install the 10.4.1 update.

After restart repair permissions again.

Now give Spotlight a try.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

robertstacey - Jun 1, 2005 - 7:09 pm

Thanks for this Cheryl.

I ran Disk Utility Look like we have a fatal error one of my drives.

I'll replace it with a new one and try the rest of your procedure and get back to you in a day or so.


Thanks again..Robert

robertstacey - Jun 2, 2005 - 10:20 am

OK Cheryl,

Anew drive has been installed.

I have done the following as per your instructions below.

Same problem. Find only finds on the OSX Volume and ignores the other volumes.

Very frustrating to say the least.

Robert.

Instructions followed.

Cheryl - Jun 2, 2005 - 6:21 pm

Robert,

I know this is as frustrating to you as it is to me. But I will stay with you until it is solved.

Go to the System Preferences and select Spotlight.
Click on the Privacy button
Are your other drives in that list? If so, click on it, then click on the minus sign at the bottom of the window.

One more thing. Click once on one of the other volumes/drives. Go to the File menu and select Get Info. At the very bottom of the window is a box with Ignore Ownership on this volume. click on it to make the check mark appear.

Close the window and give Spotlight a try.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

robertstacey - Jun 2, 2005 - 9:15 pm

Hello Cheryl,

Thanks a million for your support.

Things finally got to the point where it became wise to do a clean install on the new hard drive and go from there. I had gottten a message that hard disk utility found a fatal error of some sort.

So I installed the new drive and bit the bullet.

After backing up the files and so on over the network. Hours laters. .....We are up and running fine and dandy and faster. So after after a couple of years on this G4 things were getting a little corrupted I guess.

Thank a million for your help and support again.

If you are ever in Toronto. Give me call at 905 477 0366 and I'll buy you a big lunch.

Robert..

Cheryl - Jun 2, 2005 - 9:31 pm

Robert,

Yes, after use files do become corrupt. It is wise to use the OS CD to use Disk utility periodically to avoid a major problem.

Also, it is recommended to use Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro periodically as those programs can fix problems that Disk utility can not.

I am glad you are up and running smoothly.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

robertstacey - Jun 3, 2005 - 7:34 am

Got ths is message when clicking on the link for your survey Cheryl.

Feedback: http://www.macosx.com/help/feedback....ode=1117478918

Robert

Cheryl - Jun 4, 2005 - 6:24 am

Robert,

Give that link a try now. The site moved to a new server and we had some minor problems. All is well now.

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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl