Argh... Scratched Circle of DEATH! Xbox360

[MartyMcFly3]

I moved my Xbox 360 while GTA:V was running and heard the scrape of the laser hit the game. Open the console to discover my fear, the scratched circles of doom. Console won't load the game now. So now my options are:

Buy new on Amazon Prime for $39
Buy opened at Best Buy for $48
Send it to RockStar with $20 and get a new one in 4-6 weeks

Can't believe that I did that!!!

/end-blog-post

 

[purbeast0]

1. rent it from redbox for $2

2. install to hard drive, return to redbox, and put the damaged disc back in the drive

3. ???

4. profit!

 

[ImpulsE69]

If they are on the bottom, take some toothpaste --- the gritty paste kind, not the gel kind...

then just buff them out with a soft cloth. Should fix you up. Seriously. This works great. You may have to do it a few times. I've done it, many many times.

EDIT: you need to buff in straight lines from the center to the outer edge. Yes, it will look "scratched" but as long as your circle scratches are gone you should be fine.

 

[gorcorps]

If they are on the bottom, take some toothpaste --- the gritty paste kind, not the gel kind...

then just buff them out with a soft cloth. Should fix you up. Seriously. This works great. You may have to do it a few times. I've done it, many many times.

EDIT: you need to buff in straight lines from the center to the outer edge. Yes, it will look "scratched" but as long as your circle scratches are gone you should be fine.

For these kind of things, it won't help. I had this happen to me too and I took it to a record shop nearby and had it professionally cleaned up. Disk was visually spotless and it still wouldn't work. The problem seems to be deeper than surface scratches. Some people have speculated that when moved, part of the disc is closer to the laser than designed which gets intense enough to "burn" that part of the disc. I'm not sure if I buy that, but I don't really know how intense the DVD laser is if it's not a RW laser, and I have experience that shows there's something going on beyond the scratch.

When this happened I behaved like the stupid kid that I was and claimed that the game I got was damaged to get a return out of it after I tried to get it fixed.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

If they are on the bottom, take some toothpaste --- the gritty paste kind, not the gel kind...

then just buff them out with a soft cloth. Should fix you up. Seriously. This works great. You may have to do it a few times. I've done it, many many times.

EDIT: you need to buff in straight lines from the center to the outer edge. Yes, it will look "scratched" but as long as your circle scratches are gone you should be fine.

I heard about the toothpaste method but didn't know how well it works.

 

[ImpulsE69]

For these kind of things, it won't help. I had this happen to me too and I took it to a record shop nearby and had it professionally cleaned up. Disk was visually spotless and it still wouldn't work. The problem seems to be deeper than surface scratches. Some people have speculated that when moved, part of the disc is closer to the laser than designed which gets intense enough to "burn" that part of the disc. I'm not sure if I buy that, but I don't really know how intense the DVD laser is if it's not a RW laser, and I have experience that shows there's something going on beyond the scratch.

When this happened I behaved like the stupid kid that I was and claimed that the game I got was damaged to get a return out of it after I tried to get it fixed.

That is interesting...and unfortunate if the case.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

For these kind of things, it won't help. I had this happen to me too and I took it to a record shop nearby and had it professionally cleaned up. Disk was visually spotless and it still wouldn't work. The problem seems to be deeper than surface scratches. Some people have speculated that when moved, part of the disc is closer to the laser than designed which gets intense enough to "burn" that part of the disc. I'm not sure if I buy that, but I don't really know how intense the DVD laser is if it's not a RW laser, and I have experience that shows there's something going on beyond the scratch.

When this happened I behaved like the stupid kid that I was and claimed that the game I got was damaged to get a return out of it after I tried to get it fixed.

Debating which option to go with. Returning it isn't one of them...

 

[purbeast0]

Debating which option to go with. Returning it isn't one of them...

hrm not sure why you are ignoring my suggestion... it could be a $2 option.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

hrm not sure why you are ignoring my suggestion... it could be a $2 option.

Not ignoring it. Considering it as well.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

hrm not sure why you are ignoring my suggestion... it could be a $2 option.

Just thought of something: If the Xbox 360 can't even recognize what game it is (it just says "Play game" with no icon instead of showing "Play Grand Theft Auto V"), will that suggestion still work?

 

[PliotronX]

If they are on the bottom, take some toothpaste --- the gritty paste kind, not the gel kind...

then just buff them out with a soft cloth. Should fix you up. Seriously. This works great. You may have to do it a few times. I've done it, many many times.

EDIT: you need to buff in straight lines from the center to the outer edge. Yes, it will look "scratched" but as long as your circle scratches are gone you should be fine.

+1 A more automated repair like this has done wonders for ripping well scratched audio CD's in the past for me. Went from freezing in EAC to perfect rips.

For these kind of things, it won't help. I had this happen to me too and I took it to a record shop nearby and had it professionally cleaned up. Disk was visually spotless and it still wouldn't work. The problem seems to be deeper than surface scratches. Some people have speculated that when moved, part of the disc is closer to the laser than designed which gets intense enough to "burn" that part of the disc. I'm not sure if I buy that, but I don't really know how intense the DVD laser is if it's not a RW laser, and I have experience that shows there's something going on beyond the scratch.

When this happened I behaved like the stupid kid that I was and claimed that the game I got was damaged to get a return out of it after I tried to get it fixed.

Oh damn! Chalk up more shoddy design by Microsoft. Between red rings and game damaging, the 360 was a disaster but oh so popular LOL.

 

[purbeast0]

Just thought of something: If the Xbox 360 can't even recognize what game it is (it just says "Play game" with no icon instead of showing "Play Grand Theft Auto V"), will that suggestion still work?

no clue, but it's a $2 risk! i'm not sure exactly how much of the disc is read or used for verification purposes.

 

[artemicion]

Just thought of something: If the Xbox 360 can't even recognize what game it is (it just says "Play game" with no icon instead of showing "Play Grand Theft Auto V"), will that suggestion still work?

I'm just speculating, but if the Xbox doesn't recognize the game disc at the startup screen, installing the game using another disc probably won't help. In order for the install fix to work, the Xbox has to be able to at least recognize the play disc and it sounds like your disc is too scratched up for even that.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

I'm just speculating, but if the Xbox doesn't recognize the game disc at the startup screen, installing the game using another disc probably won't help. In order for the install fix to work, the Xbox has to be able to at least recognize the play disc and it sounds like your disc is too scratched up for even that.

My thoughts as well. $39 mistake...

 

[Doppel]

I'm just speculating, but if the Xbox doesn't recognize the game disc at the startup screen, installing the game using another disc probably won't help. In order for the install fix to work, the Xbox has to be able to at least recognize the play disc and it sounds like your disc is too scratched up for even that.

Agree but otherwise it was a good idea.

 

[Ichinisan]

From what I understand, the back of the game manual tells you how you can order a replacement disc. They do this so they can claim that you are not entitled to a legal backup copy.

...but there is a small fee, I believe.

I'm not really sure if this is still the case with all game companies. I do know that Nintendo used to do it.

Have you tried another game disc? Your laser might be damaged

 

[SKoprowski]

The exact same thing happened to me and I took the disc to my local Family Video and they put it in a machine and polished the disc for me and it works fine now. It cost me a $1.99.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

From what I understand, the back of the game manual tells you how you can order a replacement disc. They do this so they can claim that you are not entitled to a legal backup copy.

...but there is a small fee, I believe.

I'm not really sure if this is still the case with all game companies. I do know that Nintendo used to do it.

Have you tried another game disc? Your laser might be damaged

Other game discs run perfectly. Rockstar will replace the game for $20 and it takes 4 to 6 weeks AFTER receiving the disc and processing it. Amazon had it for just under $40 with Prime. I went that route as its less of a hassle with quicker return.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

Some stores will do free disk repair. The family video near my house fixed a few of my wii games after my move.

 

[Doppel]

Some stores will do free disk repair. The family video near my house fixed a few of my wii games after my move.

Nearly breaks my heart. A family video store? They are like hen's teeth, I say!

 

[gorcorps]

+1 A more automated repair like this has done wonders for ripping well scratched audio CD's in the past for me. Went from freezing in EAC to perfect rips.


Oh damn! Chalk up more shoddy design by Microsoft. Between red rings and game damaging, the 360 was a disaster but oh so popular LOL.

There's a lot of poor design decisions in the 360 depending on the version, but this isn't one of them. Why would you expect them to make a shock proof console? You do not move any console when the disc is spinning... period.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

There's a lot of poor design decisions in the 360 depending on the version, but this isn't one of them. Why would you expect them to make a shock proof console? You do not move any console when the disc is spinning... period.

This. Out of the 5+ years I've had this 360, this was the only issue ive had with it and it was due to me being careless. Other than that, my system has always ran like a champ.

 

[gorcorps]

This. Out of the 5+ years I've had this 360, this was the only issue ive had with it and it was due to me being careless. Other than that, my system has always ran like a champ.

Mine happened when I was in college and went back home for Xmas. I took my 360 with me and had it hooked up just lying on the floor. Our dog decided he wanted to come play and he ended up kicking the console pretty hard.

 

[circusslaughter]

This is the sole reason I like those small mom and pop game store. I did the same thing and was able to go in and for $10 have my game fixed in 15 minutes.

I wish the xbox would stop eating disk. They need to fix that problem, lol.

Prime has pretty quick shipping so that would be a good option if you didn't want to wait several weeks for a new copy.

I think places like Amazon and Best Buy are a lot better to buy games from then GameStop, better prices most of the time.