Module stuck in limbo between installed/uninstalled

Do you see Search API when running drush pm-list --no-core --type=Module? Are there any more errors in watchdog drush watchdog:show and then drush watchdog:show-one <id>

Yes, I see it.

> drush pm-list --no-core --type=Module
  ...
  Search                Database Search (search_api_db)                                        Disabled   8.x-1.30       
  Search                Database Search Defaults (search_api_db_defaults)              Disabled   8.x-1.30       
  Search                Search API (search_api)                                                      Disabled   8.x-1.30       

I have no errors at all, until I run either the install or uninstall command once. After running either one, most Drush commands will fail from there afterward.

$ drush en search_api -vvv
 [preflight] Config paths: /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/drush.yml,/var/www/html/drush/drush.yml
 [preflight] Alias paths: /var/www/html/web/drush/sites,/var/www/html/drush/sites
 [preflight] Commandfile search paths: /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src,/var/www/html/drush
 [debug] Bootstrap further to find pm:install [0.96 sec, 2.69 MB]
 [debug] Trying to bootstrap as far as we can [0.96 sec, 2.69 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalRoot() [0.96 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [info] Change working directory to /var/www/html/web [0.96 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [info] Initialized Drupal 10.1.5 root directory at /var/www/html/web [0.96 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalSite() [0.96 sec, 2.77 MB]
 [debug] Could not find a Drush config file at sites/default/drush.yml. [0.96 sec, 2.83 MB]
 [info] Initialized Drupal site docs9.ddev.site at sites/default [0.96 sec, 2.83 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalConfiguration() [0.96 sec, 2.83 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalDatabase() [0.97 sec, 3.03 MB]
 [info] Successfully connected to the Drupal database. [0.98 sec, 3.02 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalFull() [0.98 sec, 3.03 MB]
 [debug] Start bootstrap of the Drupal Kernel. [0.98 sec, 3.02 MB]
 [debug] Finished bootstrap of the Drupal Kernel. [1 sec, 3.93 MB]
 [debug] Loading drupal module drush commands & etc. [1 sec, 3.93 MB]
 [debug] Found drush.services.yml for key Drush commands [1.01 sec, 4.01 MB]
 [debug] Found drush.services.yml for migrate_tools Drush commands [1.01 sec, 4.01 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drush\Drupal\Commands\sql\SanitizeCommands [1.05 sec, 5.61 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drush\Drupal\Commands\sql\SanitizeCommentsCommands [1.05 sec, 5.61 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drush\Drupal\Commands\sql\SanitizeSessionsCommands [1.05 sec, 5.62 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drush\Drupal\Commands\sql\SanitizeUserFieldsCommands [1.05 sec, 5.62 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drush\Drupal\Commands\sql\SanitizeUserTableCommands [1.05 sec, 5.62 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drupal\key\Commands\KeyCommands [1.05 sec, 5.62 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drupal\migrate_tools\Drush\MigrateToolsCommands [1.05 sec, 5.64 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drupal\migrate_upgrade\Commands\MigrateUpgradeCommands [1.06 sec, 5.68 MB]
 [debug] Add a commandfile class: Drupal\vite\Commands\ViteCommands [1.06 sec, 5.69 MB]
 [debug] Done with bootstrap max in Application::bootstrapAndFind(): trying to find pm:install again. [1.15 sec, 7.42 MB]
 [info] Starting bootstrap to none [1.16 sec, 7.44 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase 0 [1.16 sec, 7.44 MB]
 [info] Try to validate bootstrap phase 0 [1.16 sec, 7.44 MB]
 [debug] Get container builder [1.29 sec, 10.23 MB]

In Schema.php line 613:
                                                      
  [Drupal\Core\Database\SchemaObjectExistsException]  
  Table 'search_api_item' already exists.             
                                                      

Exception trace:
  at /var/www/html/web/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Database/Schema.php:613
 Drupal\Core\Database\Schema->createTable() at /var/www/html/web/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ModuleInstaller.php:648
 Drupal\Core\Extension\ModuleInstaller->installSchema() at /var/www/html/web/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ModuleInstaller.php:267
 Drupal\Core\Extension\ModuleInstaller->install() at /var/www/html/web/core/lib/Drupal/Core/ProxyClass/Extension/ModuleInstaller.php:83
 Drupal\Core\ProxyClass\Extension\ModuleInstaller->install() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Commands/pm/PmCommands.php:102
 Drush\Commands\pm\PmCommands->install() at n/a:n/a
 call_user_func_array() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/CommandProcessor.php:276
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\CommandProcessor->runCommandCallback() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/CommandProcessor.php:212
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\CommandProcessor->validateRunAndAlter() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/CommandProcessor.php:175
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\CommandProcessor->process() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/AnnotatedCommand.php:387
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\AnnotatedCommand->execute() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Command/Command.php:326
 Symfony\Component\Console\Command\Command->run() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:1081
 Symfony\Component\Console\Application->doRunCommand() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:320
 Symfony\Component\Console\Application->doRun() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:174
 Symfony\Component\Console\Application->run() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/Runtime.php:110
 Drush\Runtime\Runtime->doRun() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/Runtime.php:40
 Drush\Runtime\Runtime->run() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/drush.php:139
 require() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/drush:4
 include() at /var/www/html/vendor/bin/drush:119



$ drush status -vvv
 [preflight] Config paths: /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/drush.yml,/var/www/html/drush/drush.yml
 [preflight] Alias paths: /var/www/html/web/drush/sites,/var/www/html/drush/sites
 [preflight] Commandfile search paths: /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src,/var/www/html/drush
 [info] Starting bootstrap to max [0.4 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [debug] Trying to bootstrap as far as we can [0.4 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalRoot() [0.4 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [info] Change working directory to /var/www/html/web [0.4 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [info] Initialized Drupal 10.1.5 root directory at /var/www/html/web [0.4 sec, 2.7 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalSite() [0.41 sec, 2.84 MB]
 [debug] Could not find a Drush config file at sites/default/drush.yml. [0.41 sec, 2.84 MB]
 [info] Initialized Drupal site docs9.ddev.site at sites/default [0.41 sec, 2.84 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalConfiguration() [0.41 sec, 2.84 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalDatabase() [0.42 sec, 3.1 MB]
 [info] Successfully connected to the Drupal database. [0.42 sec, 3.1 MB]
 [info] Drush bootstrap phase: bootstrapDrupalFull() [0.42 sec, 3.1 MB]
 [debug] Start bootstrap of the Drupal Kernel. [0.42 sec, 3.1 MB]
 [debug] Finished bootstrap of the Drupal Kernel. [0.44 sec, 4.03 MB]
 [debug] Loading drupal module drush commands & etc. [0.44 sec, 4.03 MB]
 [debug] Found drush.services.yml for key Drush commands [0.45 sec, 4.04 MB]
 [debug] Found drush.services.yml for migrate_tools Drush commands [0.45 sec, 4.04 MB]

In EntityTypeManager.php line 139:
                                                               
  [Drupal\Component\Plugin\Exception\PluginNotFoundException]  
  The "search_api_index" entity type does not exist.           
                                                               

Exception trace:
  at /var/www/html/web/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityTypeManager.php:139
 Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityTypeManager->getDefinition() at /var/www/html/web/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityTypeManager.php:253
 Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityTypeManager->getHandler() at /var/www/html/web/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityTypeManager.php:192
 Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityTypeManager->getStorage() at /var/www/html/web/modules/contrib/search_api/src/Utility/CommandHelper.php:93
 Drupal\search_api\Utility\CommandHelper->__construct() at /var/www/html/web/modules/contrib/search_api/src/Commands/SearchApiCommands.php:46
 Drupal\search_api\Commands\SearchApiCommands->__construct() at n/a:n/a
 ReflectionClass->newInstanceArgs() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/LegacyServiceInstantiator.php:193
 Drush\Runtime\LegacyServiceInstantiator->instantiateObject() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/LegacyServiceInstantiator.php:174
 Drush\Runtime\LegacyServiceInstantiator->create() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/LegacyServiceInstantiator.php:128
 Drush\Runtime\LegacyServiceInstantiator->instantiateServices() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/LegacyServiceInstantiator.php:60
 Drush\Runtime\LegacyServiceInstantiator->loadServiceFiles() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Boot/DrupalBoot8.php:257
 Drush\Boot\DrupalBoot8->addDrupalModuleDrushCommands() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Boot/DrupalBoot8.php:233
 Drush\Boot\DrupalBoot8->bootstrapDrupalFull() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Boot/BootstrapManager.php:236
 Drush\Boot\BootstrapManager->doBootstrap() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Boot/BootstrapManager.php:422
 Drush\Boot\BootstrapManager->bootstrapMax() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Boot/BootstrapManager.php:357
 Drush\Boot\BootstrapManager->bootstrapToPhaseIndex() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Boot/BootstrapManager.php:329
 Drush\Boot\BootstrapManager->bootstrapToPhase() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Boot/BootstrapHook.php:36
 Drush\Boot\BootstrapHook->initialize() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/Hooks/Dispatchers/InitializeHookDispatcher.php:44
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\Hooks\Dispatchers\InitializeHookDispatcher->doInitializeHook() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/Hooks/Dispatchers/InitializeHookDispatcher.php:36
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\Hooks\Dispatchers\InitializeHookDispatcher->callInitializeHook() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/Hooks/Dispatchers/InitializeHookDispatcher.php:29
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\Hooks\Dispatchers\InitializeHookDispatcher->initialize() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/CommandProcessor.php:145
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\CommandProcessor->initializeHook() at /var/www/html/vendor/consolidation/annotated-command/src/AnnotatedCommand.php:376
 Consolidation\AnnotatedCommand\AnnotatedCommand->initialize() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Command/Command.php:292
 Symfony\Component\Console\Command\Command->run() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:1081
 Symfony\Component\Console\Application->doRunCommand() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:320
 Symfony\Component\Console\Application->doRun() at /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:174
 Symfony\Component\Console\Application->run() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/Runtime.php:110
 Drush\Runtime\Runtime->doRun() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/src/Runtime/Runtime.php:40
 Drush\Runtime\Runtime->run() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/drush.php:139
 require() at /var/www/html/vendor/drush/drush/drush:4
 include() at /var/www/html/vendor/bin/drush:119

Once in that error state, viewing any page will show just a white screen with this error:

Drupal\Core\Entity\Exception\NoCorrespondingEntityClassException: The Drupal\search_api\Entity\Index class does not correspond to an entity type. in Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityTypeRepository->getEntityTypeFromClass() (line 114 of core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityTypeRepository.php).
Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityBase::loadMultiple() (Line: 43)
search_api_views_data() (Line: 236)
Drupal\views\ViewsData->Drupal\views\{closure}(Object, 'search_api') (Line: 388)
Drupal\Core\Extension\ModuleHandler->invokeAllWith('views_data', Object) (Line: 235)
Drupal\views\ViewsData->getData() (Line: 154)
Drupal\views\ViewsData->get('file_managed') (Line: 94)
Drupal\views\Plugin\Derivative\ViewsEntityRow->getDerivativeDefinitions(Array) (Line: 101)
Drupal\Component\Plugin\Discovery\DerivativeDiscoveryDecorator->getDerivatives(Array) (Line: 87)
Drupal\Component\Plugin\Discovery\DerivativeDiscoveryDecorator->getDefinitions() (Line: 291)
Drupal\Core\Plugin\DefaultPluginManager->findDefinitions() (Line: 181)
Drupal\Core\Plugin\DefaultPluginManager->getDefinitions() (Line: 146)
views_theme(Array, 'module', 'views', 'core/modules/views') (Line: 455)
Drupal\Core\Theme\Registry->processExtension(Array, 'views', 'module', 'views', 'core/modules/views') (Line: 348)
Drupal\Core\Theme\Registry->Drupal\Core\Theme\{closure}(Object, 'views') (Line: 388)
Drupal\Core\Extension\ModuleHandler->invokeAllWith('theme', Object) (Line: 347)
Drupal\Core\Theme\Registry->build() (Line: 247)
Drupal\Core\Theme\Registry->get() (Line: 88)
Drupal\Core\Utility\ThemeRegistry->initializeRegistry() (Line: 69)

What if (from a working installation) you drop the tables and clear the cache before trying drush en search_api -vvv?
In any case, it seems like a pretty tricky problem and I don’t really know what to do here, either. I guess you can just try things until you hit at something that works.

To me, this looks like an old core problem ✨ When trying to create a table that already exists but is empty, recreate the table rather than throwing a DatabaseSchemaObjectExistsException Needs work . Since you potentially installed the module long ago, there might be a schema associated with the search API, that is causing this problem. You could try to further debug this by using Devel module → . Hopefully, with these tools, you might be able to find the root of the problem.

This worked. Afterwards, I can install and uninstall the module. What I did to get here was I exported the database to a SQL file, opened that in my IDE, and went line by line to see what tables in the DB had references to "search_api" using Ctrl+F.

DROP TABLE search_api_db_content;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_changed;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_created;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_node_grants;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_promote;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_uid;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_search_api_datasource;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_search_api_language;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_status;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_sticky;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_text;
DROP TABLE search_api_db_content_type;
DROP TABLE search_api_item;
DROP TABLE search_api_task;

TRUNCATE cache_bootstrap;
TRUNCATE cache_config;
TRUNCATE cache_container;
TRUNCATE cache_data;
TRUNCATE cache_default;
TRUNCATE cache_discovery;
TRUNCATE cache_discovery_migration;
TRUNCATE cache_dynamic_page_cache;
TRUNCATE cache_entity;
TRUNCATE cache_menu;
TRUNCATE cache_migrate;
TRUNCATE cache_page;
TRUNCATE cache_render;
TRUNCATE cache_toolbar;

DELETE FROM cachetags WHERE tag LIKE 'config:search_api%';

DELETE FROM key_value 
WHERE 
	(collection = 'system.schema' AND `name` LIKE 'search_api%')
	OR collection IN ('config.entity.key_store.search_api_index', 'config.entity.key_store.search_api_server', 'search_api_db.indexes')
	OR collection LIKE 'search_api%' 
	OR `name` LIKE '%search_api%'
;

Automatically closed - issue fixed for 2 weeks with no activity.