Persistent File System Issues on macOS

[Minatory]

Hello everyone,

I’m seeking assistance with several persistent issues on my MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 4TB storage, latest macOS):

1. Spotlight Index Corruption:
• My Spotlight index gets corrupted every few days, necessitating frequent re-indexing. This disrupts my workflow and is becoming increasingly frustrating.

2. Time Machine Backup Failures:
• Backups to a file server frequently disconnect and become corrupted, requiring Disk Utility repairs.
• External hard drive backups via Time Machine also result in disconnections and file system corruption. This has rendered my backup strategy unreliable.

3. Custom Tag Issues in Finder:
• I create custom tags in Finder, such as a red tag named “Work in Progress”.
• When I assign these custom tags to files, I often encounter error 8076, indicating a file permission problem. Despite this error, the tags seem to persist initially.
• However, after a few days or a week, these custom tags reset to generic tags (e.g., “Work in Progress” reverts to the default red tag). This affects all files previously tagged with the custom tag, causing confusion and loss of organization.

4. Troubleshooting Steps Taken:
• I have used Disk Utility multiple times to repair my disk.
• I have booted into Safe Mode and used Disk Utility to fix problems on various containers and logical units on my hard drive.
• I attempted to repair permissions on my entire home folder using a recursive terminal command to address the 8076 error. I’m not certain if this was the correct approach, but the problem persists.

5. File System Concerns:
• I suspect these issues might be interconnected and related to a broader problem with the Apple File System (APFS) that I’m using.

These ongoing issues are significantly impacting my productivity. Has anyone encountered similar problems or have any suggestions on how to resolve these issues?

Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance!

 

[gilby101]

Following up the suspicion that you have APFS or disk hardware problems:

I have used Disk Utility multiple times to repair my disk.

Has it actually required repairs?
Have you done First Aid check/repair to all three of APFS volume, APFS container and Drive?

• I have booted into Safe Mode and used Disk Utility to fix problems on various containers and logical units on my hard drive.

Can you explain in more detail what needed to be done, and why?

The output of the Terminal command diskutil list might be helpful to show the layout of your hard drive.

 

[Minatory]

Yes, I did repaired container, logical units and all of that under left pane. (I selected to show all devices and repaired all)

 

[Bigwaff]

Try running diagnostics

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support

Apple Diagnostics, formerly known as Apple Hardware Test, can check your Mac for hardware issues.

support.apple.com

 

[zevrix]

Hello everyone,

I’m seeking assistance with several persistent issues on my MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 4TB storage, latest macOS):

Also, try to create a clean new account in System Settings and work from there. Will it make a difference?

 

[LinMac]

There are a few different possibilities such as your storage hardware failing. It's best to be prepared for the worst.

1) Take Time Machine or similar backups of everything. Make sure you have at least two copies of your data. Just one copy isn't a backup is common industry wisdom.

2) Make sure you have backups that are current and can restore successfully. After that, boot into MacOS Recovery and Repair the Mac disk using Disk Utility

Doing it via MacOS Recovery helps avoid using the disk it is trying to check and repair. Does the corruption still occur after booting into the OS normally after repair? If so, try 3.

3) Boot into MacOS Safe Mode and run the system for awhile. Does the same corruption occur? If so, you can consider more like 4.

4) Make sure you have backups that are current and can restore successfully. After you have confirmed your backups, boot into MacOS Recovery. Delete the existing APFS partitions. Reinstall the latest version of MacOS. Don't restore anything from backups yet. Just try a new account with nothing on it. Does the corruption still occur?

If you have checked the disk in MacOS recovery, tried safe mode, and recreated the APFS partitions without restoring backups and still see corruption, it is more likely to be your hardware. Are you still under warranty or have Applecare+?

 

[Fishrrman]

My reply will be different from all the others...

"Spotlight Index Corruption"

STOP USING spotlight. It's one of the first things I disable on a new Mac or OS install.

Instead of spotlight, use a couple of free utilities that will work better:
EasyFind
and
Find Any File
(again, both are free)

"Time Machine Backup Failures"

STOP USING time machine. Forever.

Instead, use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.
The latest version of CCC has even more "tm like" additions, if you want them.

I don't want them, and I've never used tm, not once, ever.
Instead, I use either CCC or SD to create cloned backups of my drives.
I have NEVER experienced ANY kind of "failure" from this backup routine.

 

[BrianBaughn]

OP: How do you determine that the Spotlight Index is corrupted?

 

[Minatory]

OP: How do you determine that the Spotlight Index is corrupted?

It doesnt show up files in search results which definitely do exists. It just doesnt find them and report none files found, even though they definitely do exists

 

[zevrix]

It doesnt show up files in search results which definitely do exists. It just doesnt find them and report none files found, even though they definitely do exists

Well. Spotlight is notoriously unreliable (as @Fishrrman already mentioned).

Regardless, I would call the behavior you experience a bug. Even if the reason for the issue is a corrupt index, Spotlight must inform the user about it instead of just silently not doing what it's supposed to do. I'd recommend reporting this bug to Apple with appropriate screenshots (unless you've already done this). The more Apple hears about Spotlight issues the more hope we have that it will be improved at some point.