Double Header: Finder Showing Wrong File Date Modified & Date Created - Spotlight's Gone Wacky

[PGB1]

Hi All!

Recently, Finder has been showing the wrong "Date Created" and "Date Modified" for almost files and folders.

They can be wrong by years. Sometimes the date precedes either the date I created the file or even the date i first owned the computer. I haven't seen one that's after today's date. They are always earlier dates. Once in a while, the date will be correct.

This is noticed in the Finder window, as that's my go-to service for locating a file or folder.
I tried Easy Find and those dates match Finder.

I tried cutting through Spotlight to see what the date shows when Spotlight finds a file. But, all of a sudden, Spotlight has lost its mind, so that didn't help.

If I type in the name of a file, Spotlight will open a random program, mostly programs that I have never used. (Examples: To test finding an existing RTF file on my desktop, Typed in "Holistic Dog Treats" and Garage Band opened. A search for the docx file "iDrive Notes" opened "Boot Camp Assistant". I've never opened either of these applications in the past.

Typing any file or folder name at all in Spotlight causes a random program to open. Aumsing, but pretty useless.

But, that's the less important problem to solve. And, I'm not terribly familiar with Spotlight.

For the Finder Date problem, I did a few re-starts of the computer. I reset the PRAM. Spotlight preferences doesn't have any items in the Privacy pane. That's all I can think of to try.

Do you all know how I can get Finder to show the correct dates? (And, just for kicks: Why is Spotlight opening programs?)

Thanks For Helping with this interesting problem.
Paul

PS: OS X 10.11.6 on 2007 MacBook Pro Model A1226 4 GB RAM, 200 GB SSD with 115.57 used space.
10.11.6 is the version because that's the newest OS X version my computer can install. (And 2007 because that's the newest machine my checkbook can install.)

 

[MacInWin]

And 2007 because that's the newest machine my checkbook can install.

That may be the best line in the whole post!

Seriously, though, have you thought about running OnyX on the drive? Finder reads meta data stored with the file location data and seems to be having issues doing that. It could also possible contribute to the Spotlight weirdness if the meta data is saying that a file is associated with, say Garage Band, instead of a word or text processor. OnyX may be able to assist with helping Finder find the correct data, if it's there.

And as a last resort, you could try reinstalling the OS on the drive to see if something is mucked up in Finder itself.

 

[PGB1]

Thanks Jake!
OnyX was a great idea.

When it Verified the Disk on startup, OnyX reported a problem with the disk. I re-booted with CMD-R and used Disk Utility's First Aid function.

I did forget, however, to check the Finder date problem to see if it was fixed. Instead, I went right back to OnyX and did the maintenance (structure, maintenenace, scripts & rebuilding) and some cleanups.
It would have been interesting to find out if Disk Utility or OnyX did the actual repairs to Finder dates, but I wasn't bright enough to check.

Spotlight is still opening programs when I search for any document. (Never does show the document)
It is as if Spotlight forgot its purpose in life. The behavior reminds me of a plumber I once knew who forgot he was supposed to plumb and thought he was a city bus instead. We all have our brain glitches and I suppose Spotlight is entitled to its imperfections, too.

Thanks Again for the OnyX suggestion.
I always forget to run OnyX. It is very adept at fixing odd troubles which pop up from time-to-time. OnyX, along with VueScan, are the most helpful and reliable applications on my computer.

I'll keep poking around with Spotlight to see if I can figure out why it is opening applications instead of finding files.