# Erasing data off of a CD? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758 "2003-02-18T00:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/21 "2003-02-19T22:05:47Z")
> [@](#): > > he’s definitely up to something Hey now, don’t be making assumptions! I am a 100% lady! ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/22 "2003-02-19T22:20:37Z")
Would an iron do anything? Maybe with a moist cloth over it, to prevent scarring? Would that level of heat screw with the organic dyes? Just a thought. I really have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/23 "2003-02-19T22:24:07Z")
Pardon me, ma’am. The **lady** is definitely up to something. That better? 😛 [sub]So, spill it already. What’s the skinny?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/24 "2003-02-19T23:10:29Z")
- - - _Jeez_ people, if you want to microwave CD’s, don’t go ruining your own disks. That’s what the free AOL CD’s at Wal Mart are for. ~ ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/25 "2003-02-20T13:05:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*It’s quite beautiful in its own way. \*\* And they make really good drink coasters. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/26 "2003-02-20T18:30:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NurseCarmen \* > Would an iron do anything? Maybe with a moist cloth over it, to prevent scarring? Would that level of heat screw with the organic dyes? Just a thought. I really have no idea. Note the OP is _not_ talking about CD-Rs but regular CDs. They have a metalic (usually aluminum) layer and no dyes (except for labels). I’m still waiting for an explanation as to why one would want to do this… ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/27 "2003-02-20T18:57:13Z")
Well, from the way **roadkiller** phrased her OP, I suspect she is trying to damage the CD for a game of some type. I further suspect that someone in the roadkiller household is either playing the game too much or is playing a game that she does not approve of. Of course, if the game were to suddenly “stop working” then the problem is solved… ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/28 "2003-02-20T19:56:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SC\_Wolf \* > \*\*And they make really good drink coasters. \*\* Sadly, I find this not to be true. It’s cute joke, but as coasters, they tend to scratch my coffee table. ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/29 "2003-02-20T21:52:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gonzoron \* > \*\*Sadly, I find this not to be true. It’s cute joke, but as coasters, they tend to scratch my coffee table. \*\* I’ve never noticed a problem with that. Then again, I’ve got cheap batchelor apartment furniture, which was chosen for price and durability, not looks. Even so, if you do find you have a problem with scratches, a trip to any local arts&crafts retailer can provide lots of options for cushioning a nuked CD for use as a coaster. ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/30 "2003-02-20T22:14:25Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by tanstaafl_ > Well, from the way roadkiller phrased her OP, I suspect she is trying to damage the CD for a game of some type. I further suspect that someone in the roadkiller household is either playing the game too much or is playing a game that she does not approve of. Of course, if the game were to suddenly “stop working” then the problem is solved… Now that’s just too freaky. You figured out my evil plan. But please tell me, is it so much to ask someone to cut down their internet game playing time to oh, say, 4 hours a day instead of **9!**? Obviously it is. I can’t just take the thing away, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Rob\_V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rob_V)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/31 "2003-02-20T22:15:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tanstaafl \* > \*\*Well, from the way **roadkiller** phrased her OP, I suspect she is trying to damage the CD for a game of some type. I further suspect that someone in the roadkiller household is either playing the game too much or is playing a game that she does not approve of. Of course, if the game were to suddenly “stop working” then the problem is solved… \*\* There you go! I think you nailed it, tanstaafl. I suspect her significant other is the intended victim, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Ficer67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/32 "2003-02-20T23:16:54Z")
Everquest has destroyed more house holds. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758/33 "2003-02-20T23:19:19Z")
In that case, just microwave the game console for a second or two. That’s all it takes to destroy it with no exernal signs of damage 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erasing-data-off-of-a-cd/155758.md?page=1)