Articles: Repairing a CD or DVD

CDs and DVDs are durable, but they can be damaged. However, don’t write off your favourite CD or DVD just because it got scratched. There are a few things you can do to get that scratched or dirty disc to play better.

Before you do anything with the discs, check it’s not your player – does it play other discs? If not, it’s a problem with the player, not the discs.

If your disc is scratched, but still plays (even just in a computer), make a backup of it before going any further in trying to repair it as there’s always the risk of damaging the disc further using any of the methods below.

POLISHING

1. Clean the disk using soapy water and your fingers. Hold it by its edges, be gentle, and only wipe directly away from the centre, never in a circle. Pat it dry
2. Try it in a computer CD/DVD drive – these tend to be more tolerant of scratches. If possible, make a copy of it. Programs such as Nero have a feature that lets them scan a disk very slowly multiple times – this process can take a long while, but is worth it
3. If it still won’t play, hold the disk under a good light and examine it. You’re looking for scratches that run parallel with the edge of the disk. Scratches perpendicular to the edge won’t affect playback
4. Polish the CD (this is a last resort as you can damage the disc). Use baking soda toothpaste or another very mild abrasive. Only rub from the centre outwards, never in a circular motion, for a couple of minutes – don’t apply too much pressure. Focus only on the scratched areas.
5. Wash and dry the disc again. If it still doesn’t work, try polishing the scratch almost completely out.

At any point in the above process, if you get the disc to work, make a backup immediately.

LIGHTBULB METHOD

Turn on a lightbulb in a desktop lamp (preferably 60-100W), or use a radiant heater on low heat. Hold the CD with your finger in the centre, the recorded side towards the heat source. Hold it there for about 15-20s at a distance of 10cm, rotating it slowly around your finger. While it’s still hot see if you can get it to copy to a computer.

WAX METHOD

1. Clean the CD using soapy water
2. Using clear liquid car wax or neutral shoe polish, apply a thin coat in the area of the scratch(es).
3. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to whether you wipe it off dry or wet.
4. Test it again in a computer and burn a copy if it works

REPAIRING FOIL SCRATCHES

Hold the disc up in front of a bright light. If you can see light coming through small pinhole scratches, turn the disc over (logo side up), and mark it with a light-coloured whiteboard pen, or a silver pen (take care not to scratch the surface further). Place a couple of thin strips of masking tape over the mark. This may make the CD vibrate (more so if the scratch is nearer the edge of the disc), but it will more than likely repair the foil. For an audio CD you may here an audible click when the laser passes where the foil has been repaired.

PROFESSIONAL REFINISHING

CD and DVD stores (and data recovery businesses) can use a professional CD repairer to clean the disc. These are expensive to buy, but are most likely your best bet in recovering data.

FOR IMPORTANT DATA

If your CD/DVD contains really important information, you need to evaluate whether paying to have it professionally restored (usually the most reliable option), is worth more to you than losing the data.

TRAPS FOR THE UNWARY

• Don’t hold a CD up to the sun to check for holes in the foil, if you value your eyesight.
• Don’t polish a CD in a circular motion or press too hard
• Polish a CD on a flat surface
• Don’t touch the disc’s playing face with your fingers (other than when washing it)

The techniques outlined above are presented as options only. Tone accepts no liability for further damage caused to discs

By Darren Cottingham