

The index is there (the NTFS file system maintains it automatically) and is fast (as programs like Everything Search demonstrate)… Windows Search is simply not using it anymore, probably so it can shove sponsored shit in the results, or maybe due to lost knowledge due to lay-offs.
The USB-A connector has spin ½.
You have to rotate it 360⁰ before it’ll fit (and 360⁰ more to get it back to the original orientation).