4 Replies Latest reply: Jun 11, 2012 6:33 PM by R_Kelly RSS

    "Could not initialize photoshop because scratch disks are full."

    jsquiers Community Member
    jsquiers Jun 11, 2012 9:20 AM

      "Could not initialize photoshop because scratch disks are full." This is the error message that pops up when I try to open my Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. I just installed this program on my new HP Pavilion Model h8-1214, which has 1.8 TB of space with 10.0 GB of RAM. I have read forums on this problem, but they tell how to fix the problem through Photoshop. How do I fix the scratch disk settings without being able to open Photoshop? Please help me with this problem for the Adobe Support team will not even answer my question..

       

      Thanks.

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        • 1. Re: "Could not initialize photoshop because scratch disks are full."
          99jon Community Member
          99jon Jun 11, 2012 9:24 AM (in response to jsquiers)

           

          Sometimes this problem is resolved by re-setting the Editor Prefs.

           

          Hold down the Ctrl+Shift+Alt keys and simultaneously click on the Edit button on the welcome screen. Release the three keys and look behind the welcome screen by closing it. Or hold down the keys whilst double clicking on PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe or the desktop icon for the Editor if you have one.

           

          You should see a pop up box with the words: Delete Adobe Photoshop Elements Settings File?

           

          Click on Yes

           

          Then wait whilst Elements rebuilds the preferences.

           

           

          • 2. Re: "Could not initialize photoshop because scratch disks are full."
            Brett N Employee Hosts
            Brett N Jun 11, 2012 5:07 PM (in response to 99jon)

            Photoshop Elements 2? If you have a new computer, Elements 2 is not going to be compatible with the latest version of the OS.

            • 3. Re: "Could not initialize photoshop because scratch disks are full."
              R_Kelly Community Member
              R_Kelly Jun 11, 2012 6:04 PM (in response to jsquiers)

              The reason photoshop elements 2 is giving that message is you have a hard drve bigger than 1tb otherwise pse 2 would run fine on windows vista, 7 or 8.

              Versions of photoshop elements 2 and 1 can't read the hard drive if it's over 1 tb. Later versions of photoshop elements have no problems with big hard drives.

              • 4. Re: "Could not initialize photoshop because scratch disks are full."
                R_Kelly Community Member
                R_Kelly Jun 11, 2012 6:33 PM (in response to jsquiers)

                By far the easiest solution is to upgrade to photoshop elements 10 which has no problems with big hard drives and has some new features you may like.

                It's available for a thirty day trial.

                 

                Here are a couple things you can try which might work:

                 

                Option 1: Just after double clicking on the pse 2 shortcut press the Ctrl+Alt keys and keep holding the keys until you get the scratch disk preferences dialog

                    then choose your recovery partition as the First. This would only work if you have a recovery partition or another smaller hard drive installed that you can use as the scratch disk.

                   (i don't have a recovery partition on this computer)

                 

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                Option 2. Shrink (shrink volume) your present hard drive down to 1 tb

                 

                Option 3: If you have windows 7 pro or ultimate you can use virtual xp (downloaded from microsoft)