Find/search doesn't work in Finder - help!?

I go into finder and I type in a file name to search my computer for. No matter what volume or folder I select, nothing pops up in the search window - no files, no folders, nothing. Finder just sits there. The find command doesn't seem to work. Can anyone help me fix this? I really need to find files on my computer and don't have time to sift through every folder one by one. Thanks!!!

Hi, Todd —
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
I'll assume that you're talking about using Spotlight via the Finder »» Find (⌘-F) command. If I'm wrong about this, please post back to clarify the specifics.
If nothing at all can be found, it's possible that you have inadvertently included your HD (or a significant Volume, your Documents folder, etc.) in the Privacy tab of Spotlight's preferences — which keeps it from being indexed. If the "metadata" associated with a file or folder aren't included in the indexing, they can't be searched and included in results.
To check this, look first in System Preferences »» Spotlight »» Results — are any of the boxes checked? Only those that are will be searched. Are they in the order you'd like to see results reported? Next, look in System Preferences »» Spotlight »» Privacy. Does anything appear in this window? Anything that does will not be indexed, and thus won't be included in a search. If it is the Volume (or folders, etc.) that you want to be searched, select its name and click on to remove it.
Spotlight will then begin to index whatever had been set as "private" — which essentially means "don't search." Note that this may take some time. The Spotlight icon at the far right side of your menu bar will show a tiny "pulsing" dot while indexing is ongoing.
You may want to go to Finder »» Help »» Mac Help, type in "Spotlight find," and hit return. Several useful articles on this subject will appear that will help to explain this. Here is a list of corresponding Apple "Help" articles online.
Does this help?
Please post back to share your progress, and discuss other possibilities, as appropriate...
Regards,
Dean

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