Scratchy Mac OS

If you regularly work in programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Photoshop, you've probably encountered errors relating to a 'scratch disk.' The most common error is Photoshop's refusal to open along with the message 'Could not initialize Photoshop because the scratch disks are full.'

How to Hide/mask scratches In any Aluminum Mac computer, Be it Macbook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, Or a Cinema Display like I'm demoing it on here. I have the same issue, I am on Mac OS Sierra 10.12.6. Teams call sound quality is very poor, internal speakers of Mac buzz if I am in a call on Teams. I started to think that speakers have issues but that's not the issue. Let me give you an example. I can clearly listen music on Spotify while there is no call on Teams. Using AppleALC, sound works, but is 'scratchy.' It sounds, to me, like the audio output is being 'chopped up' and not processed in exactly the right timing, so there is a 'crackling' effect. The volume is not too high, so it's not clipping, though it does kind of sound like that.

If you've stumbled on this page because you've experienced this issue, you're in luck: we're going to show you how to resolve your scratch disk problem easily and, as a bonus, keep your computer clean and performing at its best.

Scratchy usb audio (5.1 surround) I have a similar problem with a usb audio 5.1 device. Basically I want to use it within parallels because it is not supported by Mac os natively, but when I use it the audio quality is terrible and 'scratchy' is a good definition of that. Ray Gun Pro is the next generation in audio restoration for OS X. Like Ray Gun, Ray Gun Pro is built for cleaning up scratchy vinyl, tape hiss, noisy dialog, HVAC noise, and any track with poor.

What is a scratch disk?

Before we highlight some solutions, it would be a good idea to have at least a general sense of what a scratch disk actually is. When you are using programs like Photoshop or Final Cut Pro, they require a working space called virtual memory or cache memory. This is where temporary project files are stored and accessed.

For this guide, we are focusing our laser sights on Photoshop. After all, it is the most common application. But rest assured that the info we cover will apply to most programs that rely on scratch drives.

Scratch disk is your hard drive space used by Photoshop as virtual memory when there is not enough RAM to complete a task. Photoshop allows you to assign several scratch disks: that way, it has more space at its disposal.

When working with large images and lots of layers, Photoshop is secretly chewing up your drive space by rapidly creating a mountain of project temp files.

It's important to note that when you set up Photoshop, you will have the option to assign the scratch disks to the drive of your choice. We highly recommend not using your system drive unless you have no other alternatives.

Reasons behind 'scratch disks are full' error

Temporary files are the most significant reason behind the 'scratch disks are full' error. They usually mass up in your drive without leaving single evidence of their presence. If you have a habit of force-quitting Photoshop, you may have a lot of temporary files stored in your system. As Photoshop can't fully close all projects after you quitted it so rapidly, it keeps such files on your machine.

Here are some other reasons that may cause the mentioned message:

• Lack of space in the drive where the scratch disk is located
• The partition of the disk being used by Photoshop is full
• Limited RAM allowed for the Photoshop

What to do when your scratch disks are full?

Next, we'll explain how to clear out the scratch disk and fix the Photoshop issue on a Mac. If you've faced the problem on the Windows computer, follow the instructions below.

How to fix 'scratch disks are full' error on Mac

Monks can into space mac os. Mac users receive a 'scratch disk full' message when Photoshop (or any of the other programs) has used up all the space on the hard drive that has been assigned as a scratch disk. This used up space is temporary and separate from your actual project file.

The problem is that Photoshop doesn't always get rid of these temporary files when they aren't needed anymore, which is more like a permanent problem if the user can't find a solution.

So how to clear your scratch disks? Let's find out.

Important takeout: If your HD is full, Photoshop will display scratch disk errors.

1. Clear your Photoshop cache

Photoshop has an in-built solution for deleting specific Photoshop caches. Cv maker for mac mac os. When these pesky caches aren't removed automatically by the program, they can grow and take up a lot of space on your scratch disk.

To use this tool, simply enter Photoshop in Mac and with an image open:

• Click the Edit menu button.
• Hover your mouse over 'purge' to reveal 4 different options.
• Undo, Clipboard, Histories, All. If an item is greyed out, that means it has already been deleted.
• Select the specific item you want to delete or select 'all' to delete all of your caches.
• You will be warned that the purge cannot be undone, so make sure you don't need a previous version of one of your projects and then click OK.

A good way to keep Photoshop cache from piling up is running regular disk cleanups. But here is a problem: the cache sits so deep in system folders (and their subfolders) that deleting it manually becomes a pain. A company called MacPaw produced a tool just for this purpose, CleanMyMac X. You've heard of similar tools, but that one actually pioneered Mac cleanup.

Here's how you can schedule regular cleanings with CleanMyMac X:

1. Launch CleanMyMac X tool.
2. Click System Junk and press Scan.
3. Click Review Details to deselect the data you want to keep.
4. Hit Clean to clean up junk files.

Just let it do its thing. That way, you'll never forget to clear Photoshop cache and tons of other system junk on your system.

You can download CleanMyMac X free version and see how it works.

How your Scratch drive is filling up, an example from Sketch

Along with Photoshop, Sketch is another app that keeps temporary versions of projects on your disk. And it eats up a whole lot: from 60 to 220 GB on average.

Each time you press Command + S, some space is wasted away from your Scratch drive. Say your file weighs 23 MB. Then, 7 temporary editions would increase that size to 161 MB. This problem hasn't been widely known until recently, but, luckily, there is an automatic solution.

CleanMyMac's System Junk module lists Documents' Versions from Sketch and other similar apps. You can keep the final and the oldest version of a project and delete all revisions in-between. Voila, you've got free space again!

2. Delete your temp files

When it comes to wasting space on your scratch disk, the worst culprit is often Photoshop's own temp files. If Photoshop isn't going to get rid of them, I guess you're going to have to do the job yourself.

Scratchy Mac Os Catalina

To find them, you'll need to look for files that begin with 'pst' and then a string of numbers followed by the file extension '.tmp.' Search 'Photoshop Temp' with a space between the two words.

You can just search your scratch drive but to make sure everything is found, rather perform the search on the entire computer. It may take a couple of minutes for the search to complete, so pop into the kitchen for a quick snack while you wait.

When you return, you should have a long list of files. If your work is saved and the program is closed, you can safely delete these files and watch as your scratch disk space is reclaimed.

3. Clear your disk space

If you don't have another drive or don't want to buy one, then it's time to do some spring cleaning. Look at the drive contents to see if you can delete anything you don't need. Is there storage space that can be cleared? Usually, there is, so go ahead and delete your old files and free up some space.

Alternatively, you can simply transfer files to external drives, DVDs, or cloud storage solutions like Dropbox and iCloud.

Take a look at our How to Clean Your Startup Disk (10 Ways). Inside we have lots of practical advice for macOS users who want a clean drive that performs well. Even if your scratch disk isn't your startup drive, and we hope that is the case, there are many tips to help you spring clean like a pro.

Notice for macOS Sierra (and higher) users:Users of macOS Sierra might be aware that Apple has added new tools to 'help' manage storage space. If you navigate to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage tab, you will see the new Sierra bar graph.

If you click on 'manage,' you will be taken to the new tools. While there are some truly helpful elements, like using Optimized Storage to customize what email attachments download to your Mac, most of the tools move junk from one place to another place.

Because many of these processes are automatic, Sierra users might not be aware of what the OS is doing on their behalf. If it sounds like a good idea to have macOS deciding what files to send to iCloud and what iTunes videos to remove, go for it.

For everyone else, we'd recommend turning off these tools or at least making sure you understand them fully before turning them on.

It can be challenging to check and analyze all contents of your disk space. Luckily, some tools can provide a disk scan and can save up lots of space on your Mac. Apps notarized by Apple is best for this job. CleanMyMac X, the app I talked earlier about, has a Large & Old Files feature, which finds and removes massive files stored on your Mac.

4. Change your scratch disk

If the disk being used is nearly full, change the directory for a more spacious one. Then, restart Photoshop. You can change the Scratch Disk location by pressing Command + Option when launching Photoshop. It can be a hassle, but if you keep an eye on the available space on your scratch disk, you can do something when space is becoming limited. It's also worth noting that problems don't just occur when the drive is completely full, hard drives should ideally never be above 85% capacity. Pass that threshold, and problems will be just around the corner.

So, you've identified rapidly depleting free space on your Mac hard drive — now what? Well, it may be a good idea to change your scratch disk to another drive in your system (just not the system drive, as that is one drive you really don't want to slow down). If you don't have another drive, you could purchase one, with SSD being the best option for Mac OS X scratch disk purposes.

Follow these steps to change your scratch disk in Photoshop:

1. Click on the Photoshop menu.
2. Go to Preferences and then Scratch Disk.
3. Tick the checkbox to select or remove a drive as the scratch disk.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart Photoshop.

You can change the Scratch Disk location by pressing Command + Option when launching Photoshop.

5. Consider buying a new SSD

The scratch disk problem happens because of 2 simple reasons: lack of RAM and lack of HDD space. Both can be addressed if you buy a Thunderbolt SSD (solid-state drive) to use as your Scratch Disk. By today's standards, 60 GBs should be enough.

Buy an external SSD to use as a Scratch Disk. 60 GB should be enough.

6. Follow the 15% rule

Not strictly a rule, but rather a common practice states that you should keep at least 10-15% of your disk space free at all times. If your HDD size is 256 GB, your lower limit is 25 GB. You'll have enough room to render your Photoshop files, save multiple project copies, etc.

Loud fans noise is a sign your CPU is overloaded and approaching its carrying capacity.

7. Free up RAM in Terminal

When Photoshop gets paralyzed due to lack of RAM, there is a command you can run in Terminal.

1. Open the Terminal app (find it in the Launchpad).
2. Paste in: sudo purge
3. Then, enter your password.

At first, you may not see the difference, but you've just flushed your RAM, releasing all the files kept in virtual memory. There are a few more ways to free up RAM, check them out too.

You can also download CleanMyMac (get a free edition here) and use its Free UP RAM command.

1. Install the app and click on Maintenance.
2. Select Free Up RAM and click Run.

You can apply this trick anytime to unfreeze an app. Also, check out the other tools in the Maintenance section. They will help you take some load off your Mac's memory.

8. Search for hidden files in your Photoshop folder

Some projects' leftovers are invisible and yet take up lots of space. There is a shortcut combination to display hidden files in whatever folder you are in. So, open your main Photoshop folder and click Command + Shift + Period. If you find any greyed out folders, check their weight.

To see hidden files in any folder, press Command+Shift+Period.

As you see, there are many methods to solve the 'scratch disks are full' error. There is also one more way to reorganize data on your Mac and save up some space. Disk defragmentation gathers related items and lets you delete unneeded data as well as leftovers. Note that the latest macOS doesn't need to be defragmented as Apple has provided it with in-built utilities, which automatically remove fragmented files. So, defragmentation may only work for you if your Mac's running the OS version earlier than OS X 10.2.

How to clear the scratch disk on Windows

If you are experiencing a 'scratch disks are full' error on your Windows computer, freeing up space in the drive that accommodates the scratch disk may fix the problem. To do that, you need first to find out which drive Photoshop uses as a scratch disk.

1. Open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preferences.
2. Choose Scratch Disks.
3. Check which drive is used as a scratch disk.

The scratch disk should have at least 40GB of free space. If you see that it's running out of space, access the drive and remove or transfer the largest files.

Another thing you may do to fix the error is clear out Photoshop temporary files. Just make sure you save your work first and close all Adobe apps. Then, go to the temp data folder
C:UsersYour UsernameAppDataLocalTemp. Look for the files that have 'Photoshop Temp' in their names, highlight and remove them.

The 'Scratch Disk Is Full' error is fixed!

If you followed this guide, there is absolutely no reason why you should ever have to deal with the annoying 'scratch disk full' error again. Next time you want to create something amazing in Photoshop, you should experience something new - a Photoshop that runs so smoothly it practically purrs.

Whether you solve the problem yourself or let a great piece of software like CleanMyMac X do it for you, just make sure you clean up your scratch disk. Your Mac will thank you for it*.

*Not literally. That would be weird.

Frequently asked questions

Why does 'scratch disks are full' error may appear?

The number one reason for the 'scratch disks are full' message is the lack of space in the drive where scratch disks are located. You can also run out of space in the partition of the disk allocated for Photoshop, which may also cause the above-mentioned error.

What are Photoshop temporary files?

Temporary files will appear if you don't close Photoshop fully or open the Smart Object and don't close them with the Smart Object layer. Photoshop temp files have a '.tmp' extension, so it's easy to find them on your Mac.

How to fix the 'scratch disks are full' issue?

One of the solutions is to change the scratch disk allocation. You may also need to clear the Photoshop cache and remove temporary files.

Every day is a great time to listen to your favorite tunes and some truly sick beats on your MacBook Pro. Out of the blue, however, you may find that your trusty laptop sounds unwell. Songs and videos coming from various apps and browsers, for instance, might sound terrible.

Audio issues aren't at all a rare occurrence for MacBook Pro users. Users online have documented their issues with the MacBook Pro speaker, where they encounter a sizzling noise, speakers crackling, or a popping sound straight from the machine.

Here's a quick guide to navigate these strange sounds coming from the MacBook Pro speaker and recover the good listening experience you've had before.

Weird Noise on MacBook Pro: Troubleshooting the Problem

That weird noise on MacBook Pro can be caused by many different things, such as damaged or blown speakers, audio settings gone wrong, or a temporary issue that you can resolved when you reset the PRAM and SMC. After Apple released the MacBook Pro with a new feature known as Touch Bar back in 2017, forum users shortly came out to complain about a popping sound – their common denominator was owning the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, albeit bought at different times and with various manufacturing dates.

Pro Tip: Scan your Mac for performance issues, junk files, harmful apps, and security threats
that can cause system issues or slow performance.

Special offer. About Outbyte, uninstall instructions, EULA, Privacy Policy.

It's important to properly troubleshoot the sound problem to identify whether it's caused by hardware or software, or if it's merely a system update that can tackle the sizzling or popping sound. First, determine if it's the speakers or the audio settings at fault. Plug in your headphones and start listening to anything with sound. If the sound comes across as clear on the headphones, then that means the problem is related to software. Blown speakers, for instance, may crackle at high volumes.

If your audio woes happen only while you play specific songs, videos, or other files, then it's likely that the files are corrupted or suffer from low quality. If the problem persists, too, even if you listen from a CD or DVD and not directly from your hard drive, then you can proceed to troubleshoot the sound settings.

Before you try one of the fixes we provide below, make sure to always keep your MacBook Pro in tiptop shape by diagnosis your system regularly, cleaning out junk, and eliminating space hogs using a reliable Mac repair tool.

How to Solve Speakers Crackling and Other Audio Issues on MacBook Pro

Here are some methods you can try to solve the sound problem on your machine:

Checking Audio Preferences

Expect audio issues when the speakers on your laptop are set incorrectly in the preferences. Follow these steps:

1. Unplug all external devices from the USB, FireWire, as well as 3.5 mm audio ports.
2. Open System Preferences, and then click Sound > Output tab.
3. Choose Internal Speakers as the default option. If there are no other options, choose Internal Speakers to ensure that the option is selected anyway.
4. Slide the Balance slider left or right while audio is playing in order to test if just one speaker's not working right. If the problem happens while the slider's all the way in either direction, then it means one speaker is damaged and needs to be repaired.

Reset your PRAM and SMC

Reset your Parameter Random Access Memory (PRAM) and System Management Controllers (SMC), which you can do by booting your computer while you hold down the Command, Option, P, and R keys simultaneously until you hear two chimes. Here are specific steps:

1. Shut down your laptop.
2. Turn it on again using the power button. Immediately press and hold the Command + Option + P + R keys. Wait until you hear the startup chime twice.
3. Reset the SMC by shutting down your laptop, making sure that the power cable remains plugged in.
4. Simultaneously press and hold Shift + Control + Option on the left side and the power button for five seconds.
5. Release the keys and turn off your computer.

Installing macOS Updates

Some Mac OS X users reported hearing their speakers crackling after the 10.4.10 update, even though their speakers weren't at all broken. To address this, update your OS to its latest version in order to patch any audio issues. Your audio woes might not be the result of your last update, but getting the most recent update just might be key to solving them.

Final Notes

Audio hiccups on your MacBook Pro can be totally annoying, but can signal a more serious problem as well. Electronics that produce a sizzling sound when electrically connected, for one, should be a red flag. It's important to unplug it if it persists, remove the battery, and contact Apple support for assistance.

Scratch Mac Os

Otherwise, if you're able to troubleshoot the problem more clearly, then you can try one of the three solutions we provided above and see if it successfully fixes that weird noise on your MacBook Pro.

Do you have the same problem? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

Scratchy Mac Os X