My Operation: Flashpoint CD somehow got some nasty rub-scratch mark on it. The mark is about 1/4" in diameter, and looks more like a rub/scuff mark as opposed to a regular scratch. I am dumbfounded as to how it happened as I keep really good care of my disks (obviously, not good enough though!)
I tried washing the disk, but to no avail… the Disk still won’t read properly.
Do those “repair” kits you can buy for taking out scratches work? Should I give it a shot or would the money just be better spent buying a new copy of the game?
The CD repair kits that I’m familiar with fill in scratches with a fluid that dries and leaves a smooth surface.
The laser on a CD-ROM needs to shine directly perpendicular to the disk data. The scratches on a disk will bend the laser, and point it at the wrong spot…
But, something the size you described, I’ll bet, is hopeless.
It’s kinda like getting a huge scratch on a record…
Which surface is damaged?
If it’s the label* side, then you are probably looking at a conpletely knackered disc (and if the scratch is visible looking through it when it is held up to the light then any data on that part of the disc is going to be compromised).
If it’s the underside though, then it is probably possible to polish it out, but I’d be tempted to leave it to the experts; in the UK there is http://www.fucd.co.uk/ who will repair it for a fee; perhaps there is something similar in Rupert’s Land…
[sub]*The layer of plastic coating between the actual metal film layer and the real world is very thin on the label side and quite easy to damage, which is why it is not recommended to use ballpoint pens to write on the CD label.[/sub]
I have one. it called the skip dr. or something. you can get them pretty much anywhere. you put the cd in and spray some stuff on it then crank it around. it has a soft wheel with a slightly abrasive strip on it. it works pretty well, but i dont know if it would work for your problem or not. its worth a shot. i have gotten some pretty bad scratches out with it. you can use it multiple times in a row for deeper scratches
Prior to spending money on a kit, first try to rub out the scratch with a slightly abrasive toothpaste using a soft cloth. It that doesn’t help, then try automotive rubbing compound. Meguire’s makes a few grades that has helped my CDs, but any brand will suffice.
If you have a CD burner, you can extract the audio data (this often works even if the disc doesn’t play right) and burn a new disc.
I don’t know if the Disk Doctor will fix that particular disc, but… I have had great luck with mine. So far, every disc I tried has been fixed. A couple that I got back from my sister were very bad shape.
I say it is worth the $30 just to keep around, it will get used eventually.
It worked! Yay!!! The DVD/CD ROM spooled down when it got to the scratched part of the disk, but instead of dying it just went slower through the area! Thanks a ton!
I don’t know why I didn’t think of that, I used to use toothpaste to polish my models. Great idea!
Well, I recently tried an experiment with one of my CD’s. Although I have a Skip Dr., the CD was so badly scratched that I would have had to crank my arm off to get Skip Dr. to smooth it off. Instead I went to Home Depot and got the finest sandpaper they had (#600), wet the disk and sanded gently. After that I sent it throiugh the Skip Dr. routine and tried it out. One of my CD players couldn’t read it at all, but two others could, and it sounded pretty good.
make back-up, put original in safe place, use back-up.
p.s. - try 2000-grit emery cloth, if you must use such an abrasive. the toothpaste is much better. entire books can be written on abrasives, but not by this boy.
