Unable to create second scratch disk - PS will not open

[wobke362]

Hi community,

I use a Mac - MacOS Ventura, have CC using PS but now I always get the message 'scratch disk is full', and there's only one disk on the display. PS will not open, then how can I add another volume like a external hard drive of 1Tb?? Using de 'command' button whilst opening PS doesn't work either. It used to work, until the update. Doen anyone has another way to get it working? 

Thanks in advance. 

Carine. 

[CShubert]

Hi @wobke362 could you share your computer info, ie Make/Model, how much RAM/HD, etc?

If you go to your HD and get file info, how much space do you show as available?   Any screenshots or other visuals could help us see what might be a solution.

Thanks,

Cory - Photoshop Product Manager

[wobke362]

I don't understand why I have 70Gb system data??? I can't get into that system.

[CShubert]

Thanks for that info. Have you trashed your preferences and tried to make sure you don't have a corrupt one causing this?  Here is the process. Be sure to make a backup if you have any custome settings:

Reset Photoshop preferences
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

Thanks,

Cory - Photoshop Product Manager

[jane-e]

how can I add another volume like a external hard drive of 1Tb?

By @wobke362

You didn't say what kind of disk is not being recognized. Not all types are compatible.

From Adobe Help:

Supported drive formats for scratch disks

macOS: APFS or macOS Extended (Journaled)

Windows: NTFS, exFAT, FAT32

Drives not recommended for scratch disk

• Thumb drives
• Any USB-2 drive
• NTFS formatted drives on macOS

Info on recommended disks are also on this help page:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/scratch-disks-preferences.html

Jane

[wobke362]

How can I adjust my preferences if PS doesn't want to open? This explanation is ok, but therefor PS has to open. 

Thanks anyway. 

[CShubert]

Hi @wobke362 first, let's make sure you computer opens and works... No issues doing that?

If so, then let's go in and move out your Ps preferences as outlined in the link I shared above.  Once that is done, restart your computer and try to open Ps... does it work?

Let's make sure you can do the first part and then let us know about the second part and what happens.

Thanks,

Cory - Photoshop Product Manager

[jane-e]

How can I adjust my preferences if PS doesn't want to open?

By @wobke362

I'm not sure if you looked at the Help page that I linked to, but the answer to your question is in the note near the top of the page.

Note

If Photoshop 2019, or earlier, cannot launch because the scratch disk is full, hold down the Cmd + Option keys (macOS) or Ctrl + Alt keys (Windows) during launch to set a new scratch disk.

Jane

[M-H]

If it gives you warning saying it "cant open because your drive is full" i think it might be because by your drive is full. I think to avoid this message and to open PS, your drive cannot be full. If something is full and you dont want it be full I think its best to (re)move some stuff from it. Might be only my way of thinking but thats where I would start....

[ExUSA]

You need to get an external drive (formatted APFS for Mac), start your computer in Safe Mode (which will do some internal housekeeping), then start again normally and copy a bunch of data from the internal drive to the external to free space. Your internal drive is full and you will have a lot of problems beyond just Photoshop.

[jane-e]

I don't understand why I have 70Gb system data

By @wobke362

I found this from Apple about how to deal with large System Data. There are ten ideas to free space. Can you see if this article helps?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102624

Jane

[wobke362]

Hi everybody, I installed 'CleanMyMac' and got about 15Gb free space back. PS now opens. I have the latest version (26.9.0). I want to add a scratch disk -  an external hard drive of 1Tb (suppose that will suffise) but how do I do that? I went to preferences and I see one disk, the one of my laptop. How do I add another scratch disk? Thanks in advance!

[ExUSA]

How is the external drive formatted? And you STILL need to clear a bunch more room on your internal drive or you'll have system problems and your computer will likely start crashing.

[wobke362]

Don't know how it is formatted and don't think I can get more free space... My Mac has 'only' a 125Gb space. 

[jane-e]

My Mac has 'only' a 125Gb space. 

By @wobke362

Your system does not appear to meet the system requirements. 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

Did you ever follow my earlier link to see how to install another scratch disk? 

Hard disk space

10 GB of available hard disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system)

100 GB of available hard disk space Fast internal SSD for app installation Additional high-speed drive(s) or SSD to set up scratch disks

Jane

[ExUSA]

Please go to the Help menu in Photoshop, then System Info. Copy and paste the contents of that report here.

If you then open System Information in the computer Utilities folder (inside Applications), there is a section titled Storage that shows each of your drives. If you click on one it shows File System. If its NTFS or ExFAT, you would need to reformat it for Mac to use as a scratch disk.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi @wobke362

I would like to know if the steps above helped resolve the issue, or do you still need assistance? If you found something that worked, it would be great if you could share it, as it may also help others facing the same problem. I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Srishti