Seriously Scratched Up CD-ROM Disc - Ways To Get Files Off It?

[Superwormy]

As said in title, I have a CD disc that has TONS of scratches in it, and would lke to have all the files off it, do those CD Repairer kits really work? What's the best oen?

Also, is there a way I can do like a blind read off the CD, ignoring errors?

 

[WarCon]

My Blockbuster (movie rental place) has a professional scratch removal system that they charge $5 for. If it doesn't work then its free. I have seen the machines though and they aren't that expensive, ($40-100) and use replaceable pads. One example and another example.

..........edit..........
Or this one for only $799 + shipping and handling........😀

 

[gsaldivar]

Use some cheap ("gritty") toothpaste and a soft cloth.

Buff in small circles, with light pressure on the read-side of the CD-ROM. With light pressure you will need about 15 minutes of buffing to reduce most gouges to a level where the CD-ROM can be read again.

This has saved my ass dozens of times. Good luck!

 

[altonb1]

I had never heard of this, but it sounds like a GREAT tip. Does this work on audio CDs as well? What type of toothpaste do you recommend? I assume Aqua fresh, and most other gels will not work.

 

[gsaldivar]

I've used this on badly scratched audio & data CD's with pretty good results.

Just mash some toothpaste between your teeth, and if it's got a "gritty" feel to it, then that's the stuff you want to use. Stay away from the real creamy/soapy toothpaste or you will be rubbing for a very very long time.... 😀

 

[cholley]

herd of people using car wax with good results

 

[Escalade]

One thing that needs to be pointed out is that if the scratches are on the silver side (and the metal layer is gone) then you can pretty much kiss that disc goodbye! As long as the scratches are on the clear plastic side, then you can usually repair the disc - from some experiments I?ve done it takes a good many random scratches to make a disc completely unreadable... although one good scratch in the circumference direction can be pretty damaging. 🙂

 

[Password]

Do NOT use Armor All to clean the CDs. About 10 yrs ago people were using it to clean audio CDs.
(it was a short lived audiophile fad) Soon they found out that it ruined the CDs and they quit working.

 

[PowerYoga]

i like the toothpaste tip... how does that work? i mean.... toothpaste... 😀

 

[Wolfsraider]

staples sold me a disk doctor for 15.00 including tax and it works miracles for cd's and you can use it again and again harder for gouges though

i bought it to try and repair need for speed high stakes(it was scatched over entire disk)

and in 5 minutes was playing again 😉

hope this helps

 

[Superwormy]

Thank you! I will try all that. Might be a good idea for me to mention to TRY ANOTHER CD-ROM DRIVE too, as I have just done that and had better luck with another CD drive than the first, so if anyone else reads that, thats amother good idea!

Thanx everyone!

 

[Skibby9]

I heard that hair spray works (fills in the scratches), at least temporarily. The idea is to get one good read and burn a copy. I haven't tried this myself. The person who mentioned trying a different cd-rom made a good point-- the drive in my neighbor's fairly new vaio read my severely scratched social d cd well enough to make a perfect copy. That disk wouldn't play worth a crap on any of the 5 cd players I have.

 

[Need4Speed]

toothpaste works great...just be careful not to use too much pressure or you might make it work. The prinicple behind how it works is simple...toothpaste is a gentle abrasive...thats how it cleans your teeth. Very similiar to how you buff scratches out of the finish on your car

 

[BruNgoLD]

...so that means you can technically wax your car with toothpaste 😉

 

[Need4Speed]

well you could, but it wouldnt do you much good, now would it. I didn't say 'wax' scratches out of your car, I said 'buff' scratches out of your car....and yest you could use toothpast to do that if you are very gentle...but I would leave that work to the pros if you own a nice set of wheels..

to clarify: wax is wax and is used to put a glossy finish on a painted surface that will protect it from UV and other elements.

toothpaste is a RUBBING COMPOUND used to remove things...in most cases plaque and lunch. but can be used to blend scratches whether on cd's or other surfaces. you can also use any one of the rubbing cumpounds or buffing (a very fine rubbing compound) compounds at your locat autostore...and YES you could brush your teeth with them...though i would think it will taste like sh!t.