Could not initialize Photoshop because the disk is not available

"Disk is not available"?! Not only was Photoshop sidelined, Illustrator was out of service as well. The two applications seem to sing the same note when it comes to not working as expected.

Not the best feeling in the world. The initial reaction was "is there something wrong with my hardrive?" Naturally, the first thing to do is to launch Disk Utility to verify & repair permissions. The second step is to restart the computer with the original install DVD to verify the disk. In my case, both steps reported no issues.

What disk is Photoshop trying to initialize?

The "disk" that Photoshop initializes on startup is the scratch disk – otherwise known as virtual memory. Think of it as the applications reserves / backup for processing your giant layers. Without it, the application will fail to function properly.

Photoshops inability to initialize the scratch disk can be caused by any number of reasons including: operating system updates, hardware re-configurations, or in my case sheer luck. One morning it’s working, the subsequent afternoon it’s not.

What won’t fix the problem #1

One of the finer features of OS X is the simplicity of uninstalling applications. For the most part, removing applications means dragging icons directly into the trash can (and removing a folder or file from /Library/Application Support). Adobe products are a whole ‘nother beast with multiple folders and nested items installed here and there. Even if you use Adobe’s included Creative Suite uninstaller, remnants of Adobe are still buried on your hardrive.

I used the Creative Suite uninstaller, repaired permissions, then restarted and re-installed CS3. The "failed to initialize" disk error persisted. FAIL.

What won’t fix the problem #2

I tried again. This time, I ran the the uninstaller then manually searched out any folder or file [left behind] that shared any association with Adobe. Once completed, I repaired permissions and restarted before re-installed the CS3. Same result – failed to initialize the disk. FAIL.

Damaged hidden Photoshop preference?

I was irritated beyond belief. Photoshop failed to initialize the disk under my own user account, but functioned properly under any other user accounts I created and tested. I was very much against flattening my hardrive just for Adobe. Re-formatting is generally reserved for a toasted developed environment or serious OS issues.

What will fix the problem #1

A complete reformat will definitely do the trick. Flatten your disk, re-install OS X, then re-install your Adobe products. 3-4 hours later, you’ll be up and running like nothing ever happened. Personally, I prefer something that doesn’t require me sitting through a boring installation and relocating GB’s of data from a backup to a clean install.

What will fix the problem #2

Although this option does require a little more shuffling, it works and will save you hours of time waiting for an OS installation and backup transferring. Note that the directions will differ for pre-Leopard users (see this KB Article).

• Backup your hardrive – use SuperDuper or CCC.
• Ensure that you have the root account enabled.
• Log-out of your current account and log-in as root.
• Open System Preferences > Accounts and delete your main user account (Photoshop FAIL).
• 10.5 offers the option to save the User folder as 1) a disk image, 2) retain on the the hardrive under Users, or 3) remove completely. Select to keep the folder locally.
• Open the Finder and navigate to the Users folder. Open the folder and you will notice your previous Home directory appended with the word "deleted".
• Rename the directory – removing the word "deleted".
• Return to System Preferences > Accounts and create a new Administrator account with a shortname which matches your previous (remember you removed the word "deleted").
• OS X will notify you that a folder with the same name already exists and prompt you asking if you want to keep the existing. Select to keep.
• Log-out as root and back in as your original account and Photoshop should work as it should.

Visit the original Adobe Forums thread for more info. A headache, but definitely more convenient then having to wipe the disk clean for an OS re-install.

Related Adobe note. I have the Adobe CS3 Master Collection installed on an iMac. All of the Adobe tools at my finger tips – quite convenient. All is well until the Adobe Updater launches notifying me of a new Illustrator 11.0.3 update. The updater successfully downloads the update, but fails to complete the install recommending that I uninstall and then re-install the entire Master Suite. Um, no thanks. Your update can’t be that important Adobe. Who wants to wait 1+ hrs. for a re-install when the suite functions as expected? Why can’t expensive software just work?

I’ve rolled through my applications folder in an attempt to collect the Top 10 OSX applications to supplement bloggers in this blog era. Understand that the list does not reflect actual desktop blogging apps. Rather, the focus is on apps which supplement blogging.

Granted, a true grassroots blogger would manage just fine with nothng more than a WordPress.com account. Chances are that anyone who has landed on this post is interested in a little padded convenience as opposed to raw functionality. Bloggers have access to a great collection of applications and utitlites to create a consistent blogging environment.

Never leave the keyboard with Quicksilver

Blogging requires constant contact with the keyboard. Any action that require you to lift your finger tips away from the keys will henceforth be labeled as anti-bloggism. The key to alleviating such non-productiveness? Quicksilver. Launch files, open folders, meta tag items, upload to Flickr, etc. without ever leaving the keyboard. The list goes on and on. The possibilities seem endless thanks to an assortment of plugins and tutorials which revolve around this wonder app. Price: Free.

Browsing + Blogging = Firefox / Flock

While I am a strong supporter of Flock, I’ve returned to Firefox due to a small quirk I’ve noticed in the way the integrated WYSIWYG editor handles markup. As a feature rich “Web 2.0″ browser, Flock rocks. Intgrated blogging, Flickr / Photobucket, social bookmarking, and drag n’ drop everything, the average blogger has nothing else to ask for. See the definitive Flock review and decide for yourself.

As hard as I tried, complete control over browser behavior fit my routine a little better. Add to that the fact that Firefox supports keywords for instant access to bookmarks. If it’s a browsing & blogging “experience” you’re after, grab Flock. If you’re looking for bare bones control, continue on with Firefox. Price: Free.

Del.icio.us + Pukka = Endless ideas

The secret to maintaining a steady flow of traffic is consistent posting habits. The social bookmarking site del.icio.us can be used as both a content & marketing resource. Naturally, bloggers can use this service to conveniently tag items of interest for future reference. Personally, I recommend Pukka for adding pages to del.icio.us. Pukka allows users to quickly tag and describe links for [quick] saves to multiple del.icio.us accounts. Oddly enough, pages seem to save to del.icio.us a lot faster than the standard bookmarklets. Price: $5 + Limited Demo.

Your river of news within NewsFire

One of, if not the most, visually pleasing RSS reader to date for OSX. With iChat-esque notifications of unread items, live search, favicons, and complete integration with software such as Pukka, Ecto, and MarsEdit, NewsFire handles feeds like no other. Every imagineable keyboard shortcut comes pre-configured for opening links in defualt browsers [behind the reader!], posting to del.icio.us [via Pukka], marking individual feeds [or all feeds], jumping through unread items, auto-discovering feeds, and too many more to continue listing. My favorite feature? Smart Feeds. Think Apple Mail ‘rules’ (filters). Specify exact words or phrases, specific feeds, or an assortment of other options for guaranteeing that your personal interests are continually pushed to the front. Feed reading has never been so simply. Price: $17.99 + Limited Demo.

Handle FTP needs with Transmit

After spending equal time with Fetch, Cyberduck, and Transmit, there is no hesitation electing Transmit as my FTP-client of choice. Supporting Droplets, Synchronization, Spotlight favorites, iDisk & WebDAV support, and sidebar previews for files, nothing else compares. Keep your local WordPress themes folders sync’d with your server install. For a full peek at Transmit’s offerings, check here. Price: $29.95 + Full Demo.

Quick image editing thanks to Image Trick

Don’t let Image Trick’s diminutive size and simplicity fool you. I leave this little app sitting in the dock for quick access by drag n’ dropping images directly on to the icon. Image Trick utilizes Tiger’s Core Image filters to transform and tweak screenshots, photographs, and misc images on your computer. Don’t wait around for Photoshop’s 15 second warm up when you can crop & edit your blog post images in the same amount of time. Price: Strong free version with Pro options for $9.95.

Poke at PHP, JS, XHTML, & CSS with TextMate

Syntax highlighting, project view, file tree view, live spell check, and tabs are just a few features that some may point out in similar applications. Fortunately, TextMate has a few tricks up its sleeve to differentiate it from the rest including an arsenal of automated snippets, code folding, and a slew of keyboard shortcuts often requiring a cheat sheet as reference. A personal favorite is the keyboard shortcut for code validation and live code previews. Compiled projects also save time when reopening TextMate after brief breaks. Price: $50 + 30 Day demo.

Voice Candy audible reminders and notes

It was only recently that I stumbled upon Potion Factory’s Voice Candy. Yet, I’ve managed to log an incredible number of audible notes and reminders thanks to the configurable keyboard shortcut. Mine is set to CMD + Enter which automatically opens and initiates Voice Candy. Gimmicky to some, the added voice over effect add a little bit of fun to your audio notes. Create dated reminders [which will even go so far as waking your computer from sleep], create iTunes playlists, or email reminders to yourself and others. Audio clips are saved as Quicktime .MOV files. Give Voice Candy a try as I’ve discovered that audio notes are easier to create and save when compared to Stickies. Price: $12.95 + 15-day full demo.

Dictionary at your fingertips

Definitions and spelling can be so tricky at times. Thankfully, Apple’s integrated dictionary serves as both a defining reference and spelling check. Live search as you type functionality allows users to begin typing words as OSX begins to query possible matches. Alternatively, Quicksilver users can invoke text mode, enter a word, and perform a dictionary look up action [granted Dictionary + Growl support is enabled in the preferences]. Just try not to overload your blog posts with heavy words forcing readers to look for definitions. Price: Free.

Alternative communications

Despite being a written medium, blogging requires quite a bit of time in chat rooms, instant message sessions, and conference calls. Maybe it’s just me, but there is a whole lot of actual talking involved despite prior preconceptions concerning “blogging”. “Digg this! Did you read about… Let’s talk about our goals for the month. Yada yada yada.” I’m guilty as is any other blogger reading through this. How do I handle all this side chatter? Adium & Skype. No other way to go. Blogging is more than type, post, and comment. Blogging is about communicating with peers and readers. Adium handles the brunt of the instant messaging needs supporting the big four + more while Skype handles the VoIP and land line calls.

Aside from the actual publishing platform, what tools do you use in pursuit of blogging stardom? Drop your Windows & OSX tips below. Digg this.

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