CS5.0.3 Temp files on C during export even with scratch as E

Question

I have a small project that uses alot of Photoshop files as graphics templates. I thought that because I set my scratch disks to "E" that whenever I would export, it would use "E" as my temp location for any temp files generated/needed during exporting. But for some reason, my exports have been crashing because I'm running out of room on my C drive during the export. I discovered that during exports, there are several Photoshop TEMP files being created on my C drive - each like 3 GB, eventually filling up my C drive. (I confirmed that I set the export render location to E) After the render/export, these Photoshop TEMP files disappear on C. Is this expected behavior? Is there something obvious I can do to make sure all files go to a separate drive? Thanks!

Answer 1

Adobe like many other applications use the Windows Variable Temp directory for cache files. As an example, if you export out of Premiere and select the queue to media encoder, it will show the C drive instead of the drive where the media is actually located with the Project file. That is because the source that media encoder is seeing is that Windows Variable Temp directory. You can change that by creating a Folder on the E drive called Temp. Then right click on Computer and go to properties. Select Advanced Settings on the Left and then Environment Variables on the bottom of that panel. You will see 2 Temp files and locations listed at the top of the Environment Variables Panel. Select edit and then type or copy/paste in the location of the temp directory created on another drive. Example - E:\Temp
Restart Windows and then the Variable cache should be moving to that directory. Keep in mind that Windows uses those for allot of things. So if that drive is removed or fails you will take a very long time to boot and it will boot with errors.
Eric
ADK