# CD player malfunction

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-player-malfunction/260760>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 20, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-player-malfunction/260760 "2004-08-20T18:52:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-player-malfunction/260760/1 "2004-08-20T18:52:12Z")

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I have a single disc CD player that is starting to act up. I bought it 2 years ago, and it has been in constant use since then… playing discs at my store all day long. It is/was able to play CD’s, CD-R’s and MP3 CD’s etc. Recently, it has started to refuse to play some CD’s. It started with CD-R’s, but is now intemittently balking at pretty much any kind of CD. When I put one in and press play, all I get is clicking sounds.  
My question(s)… is there some way I can deal with this without taking it in to get fixed? Are there CD cleaning discs? Do they work? Any suggestions would be welcome.

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**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-player-malfunction/260760/2 "2004-08-20T20:25:28Z")

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> [@vl\_mungo](#):
>
> I bought it 2 years ago, and it has been in constant use since then… playing discs at my store all day long.

I play CDs all day while I work. The environment is dusty, and there is pet hair everywhere. I replace the CD player every 2 or 3 years due to problems like what you are describing. I mess around for a few weeks cleaning the lens with alcohol and a Q-tip but I eventually “upgrade”.

I donate the old unit to someone who wants to f@ck with it.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-player-malfunction/260760/3 "2004-08-20T21:48:05Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Are there CD cleaning discs?

Yes. You can buy a device that looks like a CD with a little brush attached to one side, and a bottle of fluid at most electronics stores. Just ask for a CD cleaning kit. The kits _do_ work.