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Posted on 21/06/07 02:52:20 AM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply  |
Scratch disk space
In the preferences dialog box (PC) there is a place to assign additional scratch disks. I have an external hard drive (USB driven) that I would like to use here. 1) Is it okay to use an external hard drive? 2) If so, do I replace the "startup" selection in the "First" row or do I leave it and assign my external drive to the "Second" row? Feedback greatly appreciated  _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 21/06/07 08:05:16 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7052 Reply  |
Re: Scratch disk space
As long as it's USB 2, that should be fine (the first USB isn't really fast enough). If this is a new external hard drive, you might consider partitioning it first. You wouldn't need more than a maximum of 5 or 10 Gb for the scratch disk, and to use the whole disk as one would be a waste; but if you store other items on there as well, it will become as fragmented as your main hard drive, which will slow Photoshop down considerably. Making a separate partition allows you to keep a portion of the drive clear just for scratch disk use. And certainly, set the USB drive as your primary scratch disk - otherwise, Photoshop will wait until your main disk is full before starting on the second. |
Posted on 21/06/07 1:02:26 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Scratch disk space
Thanks Steve, that makes sense . Unfortunately I don't know anything about making partitions. I guess I can check the help menu unless someone could explain it to me easier than the all-confusing technical jumble in the so celled "help" section. By the way, it is USB 2. Thank you! _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 21/06/07 1:44:00 PM |
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dirtdoctor23
Guest Reply |
Re: Scratch disk space
Steve Mac, My son gave me an external hard drive for my laptop (a mac, not a pc) for a photoshop scratch disk on fathers day and HE partitioned it for me so I can't help you there. After partitioning it set the 1st partition as the scratch disk in the "first" section and you can set the startup (or other hard drives) in the "second" section in case the scratch disk portion of the external drive develops a problem.But you need to partition the external hard drive before you start using it or you will lose everything you've saved on the drive up to that point. I use the 2nd part of my external drive for my photoshop files and photos. My mac is performing much better since I installed the scratch disk. Good luck. Neil _________________ "I haven't failed.... I've found 10,000 ways that don't work!" Thomas Edison |
Posted on 21/06/07 4:39:01 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Scratch disk space
Thanks Neil, I haven't even plugged it in yet so there is nothing on it but I don't know how to partition it. I went into the Windows help section.... Yeh, okay. Now I have to go to Barnes and Noble to find a Programmers to English dictionary. Thanks guys _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 21/06/07 4:45:19 PM |
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David Asch
Tech Support Posts: 1913 Reply  |
Re: Scratch disk space
If you have Windows XP: http://www.webtechgeek.com/How-to-Partition-a-Hard-Drive-Windows-XP.htm ..otherwise it involves messing around in DOS with FDISK. _________________ Leap and the net will appear |
Posted on 21/06/07 10:52:37 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Scratch disk space
Thanks David. I really appreciate it. I think I'm going to buy a dedicated HD. Western Digital has a 160GB for $79. They have come way down in price. Four months ago I paid $149. I think I'm going to spend the money on the drive instead of therapy from trying to partition it myself. Good ol' Windows! _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 21/06/07 11:01:01 PM |
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dirtdoctor23
Guest Reply |
Re: Scratch disk space
Steve, It might be worth trying the link David sent to partition that 160GB drive. you only need about 10GB for the scratch disk. You'll be wasting the storage space of the rest of the HD. I've dedicated 20 Gigs to my scratch and I have the rest for storage purposes. It might be worth a bit of trouble to at least try and partition it yourself. I can ask my son for instructions for you, if you like. Just let me know. _________________ "I haven't failed.... I've found 10,000 ways that don't work!" Thomas Edison |
Posted on 21/06/07 11:09:45 PM |
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steve hill
Brain Basher Posts: 228 Reply  |
Re: Scratch disk space
if you have files on your drive you can use partition magic this will partition a drive without loosing existing data |
Posted on 21/06/07 11:14:51 PM |
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steve hill
Brain Basher Posts: 228 Reply |
Re: Scratch disk space
just googled partition software and come up with this free partition tool []http://partitionlogic.org.uk/] |
Posted on 22/06/07 01:12:30 AM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Scratch disk space
I appreciate it guys but my patience threshold is very low these days. I'm not much of a computer guy when it comes to the system stuff and I already had a couple of scares over the last couple of months. I can design and build a curved staircase in my sleep but when it comes to computers I'm like a deer in the headlights. I guess I popped the question thinking it was not too complex . I don't want to mess with it while it still runs well. Sorry to waste everyone's time. Thanks again for all your input! _________________ Steve Mac |