# DVD disk woes
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-disk-woes/246534
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 22, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-disk-woes/246534 "2004-05-22T16:11:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-disk-woes/246534/1 "2004-05-22T16:11:12Z")
Last night I pulled out an old favorite, “O brother” to watch with the family. We hadn’t watched it in over a year, but AFAIK it had resided safely in the DVD box since its last (uneventful) viewing. Put it in the player, start the movie, all goes well for 3 minutes, then BAM: Bad sectors all over the place, the movie is not playable!
Cleaning as per instructions doesn’t help. Trying another DVD player gives the same result. Investigation of the disk reveals abnormalities visible underneath the surface, NOT scratches or dirt on the surface. They look like clustered abrasions such one might see from steel wool on a soft metal. They appear in a patchy pattern in nearly all areas of the disk. No radial area of the disk appears spared.
Any ideas of how this came to pass? Any solution short of buying a new disk?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-disk-woes/246534/2 "2004-05-22T16:23:10Z")
Based on your description it sounds like the DVD may be [delaminating](http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:LCcmKiB1QToJ:msnbc.msn.com/id/4908081/+can+dvd%27s+go+bad%3F&hl=en) (they are essentially glued together). It’s unusual, but not unheard of.
> [@](#):
>
> DVDs are a bit tougher than CDs in the sense that the data layer (or layers \_ some discs have two) is sandwiched in the middle of the disc between two layers of plastic. But this structure causes problems of its own, especially in early DVDs. The glue that holds the layers together can lose its grip, making the disc unreadable at least in parts.
>
> Users that bend a DVD to remove it from a hard-gripping case are practically begging for this problem, because flexing the disc puts strain on the glue
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### Author:  [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-disk-woes/246534/3 "2004-05-22T16:27:03Z")
The [laser rot](http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#1.24) section of the DVD FAQ at [dvddemystified.com](http://dvddemystified.com) has some information that may be relevant.
The decsription you give sounds like oxidation of the aluminized layer which can result from manufacuring defects and/or a storage case that puts too much pressure on the hub. Oxidation takes time to develop which would also explain why the problem wasn’t apparent when you first bought the disk.
Any way you slice it, any problem other than a scratch which can be fixed means the disk is now a drink coaster.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-disk-woes/246534/4 "2004-05-22T16:36:16Z")
I feared as much. Thanks for the help, guys.
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### Author:  [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-disk-woes/246534/5 "2004-05-22T21:06:04Z")
And based on the fact that all you have purchased is a license to use, and not the media itself, then you should be able to send it back to the manufacturer for replacement for a very nominal fee, right? :rolleyes:
I think this type of thing exposes the ridiculous position of the anti-piracy fanatics.