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heleng2
Participating Frequently
September 26, 2017
Answered

Photoshop CC can't save file as PDF due to disk error

  • September 26, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 14549 views

Hello! I have searched for an answer to this, but been unsuccessful.

I am using Photoshop CC 2017. When I try to save a file as a Photoshop PDF (File>Save As), the response I get is as follows:

Could not save as “FileName.pdf” because of a disk error.

Note: It says DISK error, not program error. I've seen plenty of posts regarding program errors and have tried those solutions in hopes it will help, but has not.

This is a NEW error. I have been saving files as PDFs with no issue until two weeks ago. I cannot remember if I have saved files as PDFs since upgrading to Photoshop CC 2017... prior to this, I was using Photoshop CC 2015.5

I have done the following to try to solve this issue without success:

1. Try different files

2. Try saving TO different locations (hard drive, desktop, external hard drive)

3. Try saving files FROM different locations

4. Ensure there's plenty of room on computer (145 GB avail) & external hard drive (2.85 TB avail)

5. Preferences > File Handling > Deselect "Save in Background"

6. Re-starting Photoshop CC 2017

7. Re-starting the computer (MacBook running OS Sierra 10.12.6)

8. Upon re-starting Photoshop, select Cmd-Option-Shift

9. Search for font errors - one identified and deleted

10. Ensure programs are all up-to-date

What am I missing? Any help would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks, in advance!

Correct answer ashwing89257041

Just found this: (IOS solution)

On a Mac, go to Launchpad. Then click Photoshop. Immediately after launching the application, press command, option and shift. A small dialogue box will appear, asking to delete settings. Click yes. After this, it should be possible to save as PDF again (it worked for me). ) (cc thomasf32295561)

Worked for me! PS CC 2018

4 replies

A
ashwing89257041Correct answer
Participant
March 29, 2018

Just found this: (IOS solution)

On a Mac, go to Launchpad. Then click Photoshop. Immediately after launching the application, press command, option and shift. A small dialogue box will appear, asking to delete settings. Click yes. After this, it should be possible to save as PDF again (it worked for me). ) (cc thomasf32295561)

Worked for me! PS CC 2018

    H
    heleng2Author
    Participating Frequently
    April 20, 2018

    Thanks, but that was the first thing I tried and it didn't work :/

    UPDATE!

    I don't know if it was sheer stubbornness or exasperation, but I decided to give that one more shot and... it finally worked!! I must have done that about 3 times previously without any success. This time, however, I went into preferences beforehand and added one of my external drives as a scratch disk. Then I restarted and did cmd/opt/shift, delete the settings and voila! I can open and save PDFs again. I went back into my preferences and noticed that the external drive I added as a scratch disk is no longer selected. Whatever it was that did it, I'm thankful it works again.

    Appreciate everyone's help!

      A
      Astonishing_Odyssey5C52
      Participant
      November 7, 2019

      It worked for me too!
      Tnx

      M
      meastwood
      Participant
      March 21, 2018

      Is everything else working ok with your computer?

      Just a thought: could be something wrong with your hard disk?

      Maybe try running verify/repair permissions...

      tonyharmer
      Community Expert
      tonyharmerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 20, 2018

      Just a quick question to eliminate a potential problem, if you don't mind?

      When you're saving the file as a Photoshop PDF, is it to replace an existing PDF file that is open somewhere else?

      PDF's use quite a variety of system resources (that's what makes them so capable) and if you have a PDF open (even in a different application) and try to create a new PDF with the same name, you will get this error.

        H
        heleng2Author
        Participating Frequently
        March 20, 2018

        Hi Tony - no, I'm not replacing existing PDFs. I've tried with a number of different files and file types. I've tried just "save as", as well as save as a copy. Nothing seems to be working. So strange that it was working fine for years before this.

        Mohit Goyal
        Community Manager
        Mohit GoyalCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        October 2, 2017

        Hi  heleng,

        Yes, you have almost tried everything to fix this issue. Please create another user account with the admin rights and check the Photoshop there.

        8. Upon re-starting Photoshop, select Cmd-Option-Shift

        When you tried resetting the Photoshop preferences were you able to do it properly.

        Refer: Preferences in Photoshop

        Regards,

        Mohit

        H
        heleng2Author
        Participating Frequently
        March 19, 2018

        It did not work. And now after updating to 2018, I had to delete the preferences file and re-open Photoshop CC2018 to get it to work properly with Lightroom CC. I still cannot save a PDF.

        Mohit Goyal
        Community Manager
        Mohit GoyalCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        March 20, 2018

        Hi heleng,

        Thanks for getting back to us. Could you please post a screenshot of error which you are getting while saving the files as PDF?

        Regards,

        Mohit

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