Could not open PS scratch file or initialize because disk not available.

I have a new MAC and am putting all of the adobe programs on the new machine. When opening PS the dialogue box gives the above error and will not open the program. I did see that I needed to diactivate PS on the old system. I did that and still get the error. Because it will not open the program I do not know what to do at this time.

Hold down Cmd+Alt+Shift while starting the program to reset the prefs and define a new scratch file location.
Mylenium

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Unable to start Photoshop CS6 - could not open a scratch file because the file is locked (Windows)

When I first installed Adobe Photoshop CS6 I was unable to run Photoshop or Bridge CS6. Photoshop would give me an error about "could not open a scratch file because the file is locked. If I ran either of these programs as an administrator they would run without issue, this led me to believe that there was a permission issue somewhere. After some digging I found out the both Bridge and Photoshop try to create a temp file (similiar to Photoshop Temp2777223910092) on the c:\ drive of the computer. In my case the user that I was logged in with did not have access to write to the root of the C:\ drive. Note that you run the program as the administrator and change the scratch disk location as that changes the preference for the administrator user and not the user that you are currently logged in as.
To get around this issue I first had to give the user that I was logged on with write permissions to the root of the C:\ drive. Next try and run Photoshop, you will get an error another error about the scratch disk and about and invalid or missing setting file. To correct this you need to have run Photoshop as an administrator, next you can go to Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6\Adobe Photoshop CS6 Settings and copy Adobe Photoshop CS6 Prefs and/or Adobe Photoshop X64 CS6 Prefs to Users\<your logged in username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6\Adobe Photoshop CS6 Settings.
Photoshop and bridge should now start up with no issues.
I hope that this can help others out there as this caused me a great deal of frustration when upgrading to CS6.

station_two wrote:
OK, here comes the explanation of what the scratch disk does and why it's optimal to have it on a physically separate internal drive (not partition!) other than your boot drive
I probably shouldn't say anything since it could complicate this thread, but the rules of thumb can be different under special circumstances when SSD is involved.
IF you have a LOT of empty space on your SSD-based system drive, then Photoshop can actually work great with it's scratch setting pointed at the system drive. This is because a) SSD transfers are much faster than spinning hard drives and b) there's no seek time, so simultaneous transfers to/from scratch and swap files aren't devastating to performance, and you can see a net gain because of the increased I/O throughput over what's possible using a separate spinning drive for scratch.
But if you don't have a huge amount of free space (hundreds of GB) on the system SSD, it's definitely better to use a separate drive, as station_two has said.
Also, up to about a year or so ago, you had to try to severely limit write activity to your SSD drive, since you could actually wear them out by repeated high data write activity. That's pretty much a non-issue now with the advent of things like the SandForce in-drive controller that does wear-leveling inside the drive. Modern drives will last 10 years or more in normal typical use, without special consideration.
As it turns out, making a RAID array of SSDs is a great way to boost performance across the board, have bunches of free space, and ensure even the heaviest usage doesn't shorten the drive life. I have done so, creating a 2 TB system drive C: made from 4 SSDs and Photoshop's swap file (and pretty much everything else) pointed to C:. This system flies, and I can barely tell when Photoshop and/or Windows "goes virtual" and starts using its scratch/swap files heavily. I don't even notice Photoshop auto-saves.
Sorry for the SSD diversion.
Back on topic:
Pretty much everyone who's successfully using a computer - Mac and PC users alike - comes to realize after a while that the task of integrating things on their computers and making everything work falls on THEM, not the developers of applications like Adobe. Some applications pose unique challenges, but to think you can just throw up your hands and try to make it someone else's problem when something goes wrong simply isn't a viable strategy. Maybe that's how things should be, but it's not how it is.
For those of you struggling to get Photoshop to run properly, bear in mind that it's on you to get things working. It works for most folks. It could be a configuration or setup choice you've made that may need revisiting, or some kind of restorative activity that you need to do, or even something very minor like clearing your Photoshop preferences, but it may well take your learning new things and doing things you didn't think you'd have to do to get back to where you can edit photos. It's no one's problem but your own.
So let us here on the forum help you - when we say to do something, try it. We're not here to jerk you around; we're users just like you who have already found the ways to make things work, and we'd like to help you do the same.
-Noel

I get this error upon launching PS5: "could not open a scratch file because the file is locked .."

I get this error upon launching PS5: "could not open a scratch file because the file is locked or ou do not have the necessary access privileges. Use the 'properties' command in the Windows Explorer to unlock the file". The applicaiton will not launch.
Supporting information - I recently changed the scratch disk from C drive to D drive (the back up/restore drive). The application wont launch so I cant change it back to the C drive.
Questions:
- How to I fix this .. from windows explorer how do I find "the file" that the error message refers to?
- Other ways to fix this?
Thanks Steve

Hi there! Because the forum you originally posted in is for beginners trying to learn the basics of Photoshop, I moved your question to the Photoshop General Discussion forum, where you'll get more specialized help.
To help others help you, please read through this article and provide any additional relevant details.

Photoshop won't start: Could not open a scratch file because the file is locked, you do not have necessary access permissions, or another program is using the file.

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended
"Could not open a scratch file because the file is locked, you do not have necessary access permissions, or another program is using the file."
I've tried finding and checking and fixing permissions but no success.
This happened from one day to the next. I think it has to do with the sn attached to the disk rather then the motherboard. I have the suite co-installed with Symphony 5.05. I've tried reinstalling.
What's to b done? The rest of the Creative Suite 6 (AE, AI etc.) works fine.
Anyone...?
Loui

Have you tried restoring the Preferences yet?

Can't start Photoshop - 'Could not open a scratch file'

Hi, I recently installed Photoshop CS5, however every time I open the application, I am receiving this error message at the loading screen:
"Could not open a scratch file because the file is locked or you do not have the necessary access privileges. Use the ‘Get Info’ command in the Finder to unlock the file or change permissions on the file or enclosing folders."
I've looked online for solutions everywhere, but I've obviously been unsuccessful and I'm at the point where I have no idea what else to try, other than a clean install of my OS, however that is a last resort as I currently do not have an external hard drive to transfer my files to do so. So far I have tried these things:
Reinstalled Photoshop many times, even the CS6 BETA is giving me the same error.
Deleted preference files within /Library/Preferences/
Used the cmd+alt shortcut when starting Photoshop to select a different scratch disk location.
Used the cmd+alt+shift shortcut to delete the settings file, which I cannot do as the error message mentioned above appears before the window for deleting the settings file does.
Tried rebooting several times, even into safemode and I still get the same message.
Tried changing the permissions on the Applications folder, Adobe folder, CS5 folder and CS5 application, however they are all set to 'read & write access' for me. I am also set as an administrator.
Cleaned my cache of any unneccessary files.
I have also repaired my permissions using Disk Utility, but that didn't solve the problem.
I have a 2010 Macbook Pro, 4GB RAM running OS X Lion 10.7.3 with 2 patitions on my harddrive (OS X and Windows 7). I have 15GB free on my OS X partition currently, which may not seem like much, however I have run Photoshop CS5 previously as a trial and other versions of Photoshop and the small amount of harddrive space has never affected the software's ability to create a scratch file.
The strange thing, however, is that I can use Photoshop CS5 & CS6 on a guest account that I created recently, which means that the problem I am having is permissions based. Logging into a seperate account is a good enough solution for now, but it is incredibly tedious to keep changing accounts just to use Photoshop.
Has anyone got any other ideas? As I mentioned previously, reinstalling is a last resort as I currently don't have the neccessary resources.
Thanks.

I managed to fix this myself, almost by accident, after failing every method suggested that I came across.
My problem was due to 'read only' access being set to some folders in ~/private/ on my main account, meaning that Photoshop could not create an important, temporary scratch file in this location.
To anyone else who comes across this thread due to having the same problem, here's the solution:
Open finder, then go to 'Go' in the menu bar and select 'Go to folder'
In the window that opens, enter '/private/' and click 'Go'
Then, right click on the folder 'tmp' within /private/ and select 'Get info'
In here, scroll to the permissions section and change the relevent user permissions to 'read and write'
Before closing this window, click on the gear icon underneath the list of users and select 'Apply to enclosed items' and hit 'Ok' in the next window.
Finally, repeat steps 3 - 5 for the folder named 'var', also within /private/ and you're done. Photoshop should now open as intended!
Although this solution was ideal for my home laptop, giving 'read and write' access to important folders like these can probably lead to lowered security so please do it at your own risk.

Photoshop wont open get error could not open a scratch file because the disk is not available

Had to clone my hard drive to another drive on my computer.
I have been receiving a message "Could not open a scratch file because the disk is not available" I have tried UN-installing and re-installing...still the same message.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix this?
Thanks!

What do you have here.
If that does not help, reset your prefs
Hold fingers over Shift Option Command (or similar on Windows) then boot Photoshop and as fast as you can depress the 3 keys.

Cannot Launch Photoshop CS5 - "Could not Open a Scratch File..."

Hi, so photoshop CS5 is not launching.
Just got it in the mail, installed it, and now I'm getting this message:
"Could not open a scratch file because the file is locked or you do not have the necessary privileges.
Use the get info command in finder to unlock the file."
I've tried multiple things to try to resolve the issue including:
1) reinstalled 3 times
2) pulled all plists regarding adobe found at ~/library/preferences/
3) tried booting to safe mode, no difference
4) checked software updates for anything adobe, everything installed now.
5) note, this is also happening in photoshop cs2 now
6) tried changing permissions to enclosed items to the photoshop CS5 folder read/write access.
I've got a 21.5 iMac with Mac OS X 10.6.4 installed.
What other suggestions does anyone else have??
I have called adobe, talked to 3 different people, and talked to Applecare, each support rep
has told me to contact the other. I do not know what to do at this point.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I've got the same [edited by host] problem...
I've gone to the Windows Explorer Folders and the Files and DISABLED THE "READ ONLY" CHECK BOX ON EVERY LAST FILE & FOLDER REALTED TO IMAGES I'M ATTEMPTING TO EDIT...
BUT THEN IT RESETS THEM BACK TO BEING "READ ONLY" SEVERAL SECONDS LATER.
i'M THE ADMINISTRATOR ON THIS SYSTEM, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT...
I THINK IT'S ADOBE'S [edited by host] TOOLS....
ALSO THEIR HELP SECTION is poor [edited by host] TOO...
Host to poster: You have posted in the Photoshop Mac forum. As you are having a problem with your Windows system, then the a Windows forum would be a better place to post. Ranting at your fellow users is not likely to win you friends nor likely to encourage anyone to help you. This is a user to user forum and not a conduit to official Adobe technical support. Please be more civil in your future posts. These forums are visted by people of all ages. Foul-mouthed posting is not tolerated. Should you continue your posts in the same manner as this post, your posts will be deleted and you will be banned from the forums.

Unable to start Photoshop CS 6 Beta - could not open a scratch file because the file is locked (win)

The Program does nor start.
I the the following error message:
Gould not open a scratch file because the file is locked, you do not have necessary access perimssens, or another program is using the file. Use the "Properities" command In the WIndows Explorer to unlock the file.
Which file shoud I unlock?
What means "unlock"?
Adda

"Hello, Adda. Most users can use it without problems. Did you set strict permissions on your machine?
Also, is it a small SSD? you lose their speed benefit by not putting Photoshop's scratch file on it."
Most power users are having big problems, We don't put scratch files on our SSDs because we know that this will run those into the ground. They are not intended for the pounding of constant read / write cycles. We also switch off indexing and any other constant cycling technology. Again, SSDs are best use for static files. They are, in fact, intended mainly for super fast launch, which is what they do so well. Obviously, if all you have is an SSD, then you have to live with the shortened life.
I have my scratch files and my TEMP folder set to a huge and empty internal drive. I have my USERS folder hard linked to a different huge internal drive, where I also store MY DOCUMENTS. I have an even larger internal drive where I store MY PICTURES. This has worked flawlessly (and very fast) for CS5 and LR4 Beta 1. Only CS6 complains constantly.
"Yes, I agree, but sometimes, what sounds and smells like a bug is not one, hence the troubleshooting we're trying to do, before QE tries to reproduce it."
This one not may or may not be a bug. But since I own and run dozens of applications, and only CS6 is freaking out constantly, I would say that it is not normal behavior.

CS6 could not open a scratch file because the file is locked

I am able to run CS6 when I login Admin, so i change scratch file location to D:\. After restarting PC, login by Admin, I can run CS6. But I still can't run CS6 when I login by other account, I think the location of scratch file is per user setting. Any way to set this for all user?

Yes, it's per user because it's part of the prefs. If the scratch file can't be created, then you need to set your drive permissions properly. Refer to this:
Installation Preparations
Mylenium

Photoshop can't initialize because disk not available

Because of the smaller size of the boot disk of my Mac (40GB) I have to move everything to a larger capacity drive. I have been using a 500GB firewire drive for almost a year for mass storage. I am now have it running as my startup drive, then I will upgrade to OS X 10.5.x on the 500 GB drive. Right now BOTH drives are running 10.4.11. I will keep the older drive on 10.4 until all apps that need upgrading to run on 10.5 have been replaced.
I used Carbon Copy Cloner to copy the entire original drive content to the newly initialized large drive. The problem is that Photoshop will NOT start up from the new drive. It will get to the point of measuring memory, then gives an error message of "could not initialize Photoshop because the disk is not available".
If I click on the Photoshop app on EITHER drive while using the system on the 500GB drive, I get the disk not available message. If I reboot on the original drive, Photoshop WILL run as before. Clicking on the app on the 500 GB drive while running the OS on the small drive still gives the error message.
This problem only is with Photoshop, not InDesign or Illustrator which work normally. Needless to say, having to reboot back and forth is a big pain in the back side and a huge waste of time. There must be an invisible file that requires Photoshop to run on a particular drive with a particular installed OS.
Before I update to CS3, I want to be sure I will be allowed to install on the larger drive and not be forced to install on the drive that the only working version OS Photoshop will run. I have not tried to see if I can run the "new" Photoshop transferred to the 500 GB drive by deleting the original version. I can't afford to run the risk not having any Photoshop at all.
Much to my dismay, you can NOT re-install CS2 for any reason if there is not an older version of Photoshop so it knows you are upgrading. Once you install the one time as an upgrade, you have a set of very expensive coasters!!!! What if a drive dies or an app gets corrupted and you have to re-install? Guess you shell out $1,200 for a new full version. What a rip off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I want to change the way my single computer is laid out, that is my decision, not Adobe's.
Any suggestions or help???
Related to this problem but not requiring a response as it is a complaint -- I tried to deal with Adobe customer service today and after 30 minutes was told I was being transferred to a supervisor. (Talking to the first person was extremely difficult as they were obviously on a phone bank overseas.) When the phone answered, it asked for a mail box number or wait for assistance. I waited and then a message came on that no one available and hung up on me so I had to call back again. I am NOT happy with Adobe at this point.

I have given up trying to get Photoshop to work on the new external firewire drive, so this thread can die like Photoshop has been doing. Right now, I am not particularly thrilled with Adobe.
I have changed the scratch disk so it could be on any of the four drives, but the app that wouldn't open without the error has to be able to be opened to change its prefs ( catch 22). I also changed the ownership, but that didn't help. The drives are all HSF+.
I have now split apps over two internal 40 GB drives with Adobe and Apple remaining on the boot drive and all other apps aliased from the second drive, giving me a total of 41 GB free space. Data files have been relocated to the 500 GB firewire drive along with iPhoto files and iTunes and all archive and backup info on the 750 GB firewire.
I now think the problem is that Adobe does not allow a user to install a useable Photoshop on an external system drive (since it can work if opened from the internal system drive).
Yes, I know I have an older system, but it works, does the work, and has to do for now. Not everyone can afford the newest and best Mac every year!

Photoshop CS6 could not open a scratch file because the file is locked

hello, I've been having problems with the error above.
my setup has 128gb ssd (C) which contains only my OS files with some junction points to Program Files/Program Files(x86)/ProgramData/Users which are located in my D drive which is a 1TB WD.
at first it showed when I tried to start PS for the first time after a clean install on a new computer I managed to get past it by runing PS as admin and changing the scratch disk to D.
but now I noticed that when I try to copy a path from illustrator into photoshop as either a smart object or as pixels I get this error again. I haven't seen it again other then that but I just started using PS in this setup so I am yet to explore all the functions and whether they are working correctly or not.
when ran as an administrator the illustrator->PS transfer works fine but I don't want to run PS as admin all the time...
anyone found a solution for this?
I already tried playing with the permissions but it didn't help.
thank you

ok I managed to fix this! I had to run a disk repair it took a long time but after a reboot it now works fine.
hard drive -> properties -> tools -> error-checking -> check now...

Getting error message "Could not open a scratch file...

...because the file is locked. Use the "Properties" command in Windows explorer to unlock the file"
I cannot open PS because of this error message. I changed the scratch disk within Photoshop in the "Preferences" section and next time I opened PS (CS4) this is the error message I got.
I went to Windows Explorer and all my permissions are "Full Control" on all users. I cannot see anything else I can do. How do I solve this problem?
PS CS4
Windows Vista/home 32

Are you running PS as administrator?
Also try clearing your perf file by selecting CTRL, Alt, Shift during PS Start up. You have to be quick with the open timing. A screen should pop up asking if you want to reset. Hit yes. A conformation should pop up after.

Could not open a scratch file because the file is locked or you do not have the necessary access pri

Photoshop does not start I get the error above. I uninstalled and reinstalled but the problem is still there. It happens all the time with all files. Please help thanks

Yes, you have a permissions problem on your scratch disks or boot disk.
The exact location affected depends on which OS you're running.
But most likely you have some root level disk permission problems.

Could not open a scratch file because of a disk error

Photoshop CS6 at opening...
What am I supposed to do with this??
Help!
Juan

Well, I'd start by being worried that you have a problem on your system if an application is reporting a disk error.
But beyond that, if you want to reset what drive Photoshop uses for scratch, press and hold the Control and Alt keys (Option and Command keys on a Mac) immediately upon cold-starting Photoshop. If you're quick enough to get the keys down, Photoshop will prompt you to choose a different set of scratch drive(s).
-Noel

COULD NOT OPEN A SCRATCH FILE BECAUSE THE DISK IS NOT AVAILABLE

Any thoughts? I can't open the program.
I have a mac pro with four drives who thought I just finished a successful install of legit academic version previously used by myself only. Production Premium CS5.
Matt

There's no image "attached". You can't show an image if you are accessing the forum through e-mail. Any file attached to an email will just disappear into cyberspace, without anyone ever seeing it.
To embed an image in a post, use the camera icon in the Reply Editor in the forum's web interface using your web browser.
Back to your issue:
You need to trash your Photoshop preferences by holding down Command+Option+Shift as you launch Photoshop until you get a dialog box allowing you to delete your preference settings.

Could not open PS scratch file or initialize because disk not available.

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