Anyway to unscratch a dvd?

Krellor · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:13

I lent a friend a couple of films and it looks like hes played hockey on the kitchen floor with em. Is there anyway to make em playable again, apart from the toothpaste thing?

Sp00n · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:14

Why "apart" from the toothpaste thing ?

Did it not work?

Spokwiththeears · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:19

Try using some brasso metal polish wadding, it worked for me.

jp_bl_68 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:23

Krellor said:
Is there anyway to make em playable again

Tell your friend to replace them.

I can't understand how people manage to trash so many DVDs and CDs. I used to have hundreds and never wrecked a single one.

buchtis · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:23

A wee bit of Brasso, then wipe in a fast circular motion pressing firmly on it. Wipe clean with a tissue and you're good to go.

mrk · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:32

Anyway, to answer the question, an optical disc has a layer of film above the surface itself, that is most likely scratched. Buy a disc cleaning tool that scrapes away a fine layer of this film leaving a smooth surface.

http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR166491

Be careful doing it by hand using cream solutions like brasso etc. You can not always scrape away an even layer all round like a kit machine (above) can and the disc could wobbe when in use or shatter inside the drive.

Sp00n · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:33

Don't buy those kits, they are crap.

Use Brasso/toothpaste as has been mentioned.

A.N.Other · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:39

Never had an issue with toothpaste myself - just don't use one with bits in it. Some of my drives can be pretty picky at times, so it's not uncommon that I have to do a DVD that lovefilm sends me out. From the amount of visible toothpaste in the slight gap between the plastic layers in the centre, other people have similar issues as well with some of the older ones.

xJcBx · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:39

Most DVD rental shops do it for a few quid, always done a decent job of it when I've gone in with PS3 and PS2 games in the past.

BigglesPiP · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:45

SkipDr, worls reasonably well. And the Expensive grinding fluid is actually just water.

steve-h · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:54

go back in time

Tikkabhuna · 31 Jan 2011 at 17:12

I used brass polish on my Half Life CD a couple of times.

Krellor · 31 Jan 2011 at 17:13

Sp00n said:
Why "apart" from the toothpaste thing ?

Did it not work?

Never worked in the past.

Never even thought of brasso, good call. Ill try that when I get a bit of time, thenks.

Substance · 31 Jan 2011 at 17:17

Take it into your local dvd rental store, they can repair it for £2 a disk

utajoker · 31 Jan 2011 at 19:01

xJcBx said:
Most DVD rental shops do it for a few quid, always done a decent job of it when I've gone in with PS3 and PS2 games in the past.

yup, take it to blockbuster and charge ur mate.

mattyfez · 31 Jan 2011 at 19:11

Bittorrent. It's the only way to be sure

Murray · 31 Jan 2011 at 19:20

steve-h said:
go back in time

i came in this thread just to do that!

Chicken #16 · 31 Jan 2011 at 19:34

In the past, I've ripped the contents of a dvd to desktop when it no longer plays (skipping). Might be worth a go

mattyfez · 31 Jan 2011 at 20:19

Chicken #16 said:
In the past, I've ripped the contents of a dvd to desktop when it no longer plays (skipping). Might be worth a go

This actually works, I've done it before with an audio disk that won't read direct from the drive, or a proper cd player, due to what was obviously surface damage to the top layer, but bear in mind that very act will label you as a terrorist.

And you will go to hell, and you will burn in fire and brimstone because you are a criminal and you hate the baby jesus.

coopersim · 31 Jan 2011 at 21:06

Nice idea with the Brasso, I'd have thought it was way to strong!