# Issue to Re-Build External Drive

**URL:** <https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540>\
**Category:** Tips\
**Created:** [February 15, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540 "2018-02-15T16:45:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/DrJJWMac)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540/1 "2018-02-15T16:45:13Z")

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I have a folder on an external drive. I indexed that folder to start a database. I removed the external drive. I reindexed the database. The database ends up empty.

- Is this to be expected?
- If so, should I have been given a warning?

–\> The source for the re-index is no longer available. Do you really want to proceed with the re-indexing?

–  
JJW

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**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540/2 "2018-02-15T17:07:47Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> I have a folder on an external drive. I indexed that folder to start a database. I removed the external drive. I reindexed the database. The database ends up empty.

What does this mean; “I reindexed the database”?

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**Author:** ![DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/DrJJWMac)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540/3 "2018-02-15T17:30:15Z")

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> [@BLUEFROG](#):
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > I have a folder on an external drive. I indexed that folder to start a database. I removed the external drive. I reindexed the database. The database ends up empty.
> 
> What does this mean; “I reindexed the database”?

Pardon me. What I did was REBUILD the database without the external drive attached.

Yes, I got the warning. And then there was … nothing.

And even after I reconnect the external drive … nothing.

I have to go back and re-index the source folder (yes, here I mean … select it again to index).

- Should it be expected this way?
- Should I get a warning?

→ The source folder for the operation to rebuild is missing. Do you really want to proceed?

## – JJW

JJW

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540/4 "2018-02-15T20:08:09Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> - Should I get a warning?

Not unless you ran a Tools \> Verify & Repair.

> [@](#):
>
> - Should it be expected this way?

Yes. A Rebuild would remove all missing files.

However, when the drive is mounted again, the location should resolve. It’s possible the drive mounted with a different name, like myDrive 1, in which case, the absolute path would not be resolved. Check /Volumes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/DrJJWMac)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540/5 "2018-02-15T22:58:44Z")

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> [@BLUEFROG](#):
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > - Should it be expected this way?
> 
> Yes. A Rebuild would remove all missing files.

Ugh!

My frustration is that we are issued the same standard warning even when the outcomes are dramatically different _and the dangerous option could likely have been detected in advance_. 😢

→ This operation rebuilds your database. (rest of standard warning) Do you want to proceed?  
 → The source to rebuild the database is missing or invalid. A rebuild operation will result in an empty database. Do you want to proceed?

> [@BLUEFROG](#):
>
> However, when the drive is mounted again, the location should resolve. It’s possible the drive mounted with a different name, like myDrive 1, in which case, the absolute path would not be resolved. Check /Volumes.

This mounts specifically at /Volumes/Workspace as a folder inside that volume.

It does not just simply resolve. I have to index the data folder again. Only then do I get back the indexed file list.

–  
JJW

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540/6 "2018-02-16T02:33:29Z")

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I’m curious as to why you disconnected the drive then did a Rebuild.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@DrJJWMac](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/DrJJWMac)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/issue-to-re-build-external-drive/23540/7 "2018-02-16T03:12:39Z")

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> [@BLUEFROG](#):
>
> I’m curious as to why you disconnected the drive then did a Rebuild.

Because I could.

Edit: It does not matter against the strength of my concern. It may have been accidental. It may have been ignorance. It may have been to test the fail safe of DTP before I commit (and in truth, it was somewhat this Maxwell’s demon in me).

–  
JJW