Live NTFS index does not detect newly created hardlinks until Force Rebuild

[ericzmeh]

I believe I may have found an issue with live NTFS monitoring of newly created hardlinks.

After an application creates a new hardlink on an NTFS volume, NTFS reports that both hardlinks exist, but Everything only indexes the original path. The second path does not appear until a Force Rebuild is performed.

Environment
- Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (Build 26100.6584)
- Everything 1.4.1.1032 x64
- NTFS volume with USN Journal enabled
- "Load recent changes from USN Journal" enabled
- "Monitor changes" enabled

How I observed the issue
I consistently observe this behavior when Sonarr imports media using its "Use Hardlinks instead of Copy" option.

Steps observed

1. A file already exists on an NTFS volume.
2. A second hardlink is created to that file.

3. Code: Select all

   fsutil hardlink list "<path>"

   confirms that both hardlinks exist.
4. Explorer can access both hardlink paths.
5. Everything only displays the original path until a Force Rebuild is performed.

Expected
Everything should immediately show both paths.

Actual
Everything only shows the original path. The newly created hardlink is not indexed until a Force Rebuild is performed. After the Force Rebuild, the second hardlink immediately appears without any additional filesystem activity.

Verification

• Explorer can access both hardlink paths.

• Code: Select all

  fsutil hardlink list

  confirms both hardlinks exist before a Force Rebuild.
• After a Force Rebuild, Everything immediately displays both paths.

I'm happy to provide screenshots or perform additional testing if needed.

[therube]

Pretty sure that is expected in 1.4.

There are some differences in that regard in 1.5.
(Specifics I don't recall offhand.)

So try out 1.5, & see if that works better for you.
Read the upgrade guide...

Everything 1.5 Beta

[void]

Everything 1.4 does index all hardlinks.
Everything 1.4 does not detect new and changed hardlinks.
Everything 1.4 will not detect deleted hardlinks.

Everything 1.5 does index all hardlinks.
Everything 1.5 will detect new and changed hardlinks.
Everything 1.5 will not detect deleted hardlinks. (limitations with Everything and the USN Journal)
-Forcing a rebuild from Tools -> Options -> Indexes will remove deleted hard links from your index.

[therube]

Forcing a rebuild from Tools -> Options -> Indexes will remove deleted hard links from your index

Or I suppose that Purge Non-existent Names might do the trick.