Changing Scratch Disk Folder Location

J
Posted By
JamesKirk
Apr 22, 2008
Views
457
Replies
6
Status
Closed
Hi,
I’m on an office network running photoshop. The office is set up to have roaming profiles so when a change is made to my documents and settings, each time I log in or log out, it updates the server with the changes. Additionally, when I log on to a different computer, it loads all of my documents and settings on to that computer.

The scratch disk file for photoshop last time I checked was 6GB which is enormous, and was taking forever to load whenever I log onto a new computer, as well as taking forever to up date to and from the server each time I log on to my usual computer. I delete the file each time I remember, but I don’t always remember.

My question is whether it is possible to change the folder location on my C drive of the scratch disk file. I do not have an external hard drive available to use as my scratch disk. This would allow me to put it somewhere else on my C drive, and as such it would not have to update my profile.

I am using Photoshop CS3, on Windows XP.

Many thanks
James
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Rudy Benner
Apr 22, 2008
wrote in message
Hi,
I’m on an office network running photoshop. The office is set up to have roaming profiles so when a change is made to my documents and settings, each time I log in or log out, it updates the server with the changes. Additionally, when I log on to a different computer, it loads all of my documents and settings on to that computer.

The scratch disk file for photoshop last time I checked was 6GB which is enormous, and was taking forever to load whenever I log onto a new computer, as well as taking forever to up date to and from the server each time I log on to my usual computer. I delete the file each time I remember, but I don’t always remember.

My question is whether it is possible to change the folder location on my C drive of the scratch disk file. I do not have an external hard drive available to use as my scratch disk. This would allow me to put it somewhere else on my C drive, and as such it would not have to update my profile.

I am using Photoshop CS3, on Windows XP.

Many thanks
James

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D
DGWaters
Apr 22, 2008
I’m a little confused here:

6GB which is enormous, and was taking forever to load whenever I log onto a new computer

First of all, scratch disk is a temp file and shouldn’t load at all when you log on (unless it’s kept alive on the server somehow?) – it should be deleted when PS is closed. Aside from that, 6GB is not enormous at all – it’s quite normal.

As for the location, the scratch disk places itself wherever there’s free space on whichever partition you point it to. That’s all the control you have, if you want to move it it will have to be a different partition. It’s not in the documents and settings folder.

I feel that maybe I misunderstand you (or your office network; don’t have much experience with networks) – these are just basic Photoshop properties.
J
JamesKirk
Apr 22, 2008
Hi,
Thanks for the response. I appreciate that 6GB isn’t that big for the file. However it is big when the file is being copied to the server each time I log on and off the computer – It takes forever to log onto a new computer, and a fairly long time to log on to my regular computer.

The problem is that Photoshop places it’s hidden temp file at this location: C:\Documents and Settings\jkirk\Local Settings\Temp\Photoshop Temp2090263424

If I could make photoshop place this file in a location not in Documents and Settings, then the file would simply be on my hard drive and not have to be copied to the server each time. – Does this make sense?

The file does indeed disappear when photoshop is closed, but somehow it still exists in that location, because it reappears when photoshop is opened again, exactly the same cumulative size. This is why it gets so big.

However, from what you’ve said, it seems like I can’t control where photoshop decides to put the file, only the drive it is on. If this is the case, I must just give up, or get hold of an exteral hard drive.

Thanks for your help.
JJ
John Joslin
Apr 22, 2008
I think you are a bit confused.

That temp file goes on the drive you nominate as primary scratch in PS preferences.

I nominated my D:\ drive which has 150 GB free space. If PS needed more it could then use the secondary.

Since you only have one HDD, you could make a partition for PS scratch or nominate C:\ rather than "Start-up".
J
JamesKirk
Apr 22, 2008
Hi,
Thanks for your response.
I realise that I am able to change the drive which photoshop uses as a scratch disk, I simply want to be able to change the location on that drive where the temporary file is placed. Ie, so it is not in

C:\Documents and Settings\jkirk\Local Settings\Temp

For example, I would prefer if it was placed in:

C:\Temp

This would mean that my documents and settings were not affected, and thus it would not be copied on to the server each time I log on or off.

Thanks for everyone’s help so far.
D
DGWaters
Apr 22, 2008
make a partition for PS scratch or nominate C

Try either one, and see what happens. You can’t tell it to go to C/Temp, but you can tell it to go to C.

A new partition would probably be the safest bet.

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