Re-surfacing CDs So They Work Again. (2024)

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Introduction: Re-surfacing CDs So They Work Again.

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A simple way to remove scratches from a cd so you can get your data back off the disc again.

Step 1: Gather Required Materials.

First gather the following materials.

- Paper towel (softer is better)
- Polishing cloth (eyeglasses cloth will do fine)
- CD scratched beyond playability (Easy to find)
- Can of Brasso Metal Polish.

Step 2: Add Brasso and Start Polishing!

Take some of the brasso and pour it onto the CD. Please be careful with the Brasso, and only perform this in a well ventilated area. I was making this guide at at the office, and forgot about the fumes. I had to polish the CD in the stairwell as I would have fumed out my co-workers otherwise.

Use the paper towel pieces to polish the CD. Polishing is ideal in straight strokes from the center of the disk to the outside so you polish perpendicular to the tracks on the disc. Because I was short on time, I used small circular motions similar to how I'd polish a car. Take your time with this. Add Brasso when it dries or gets pushed off the CD. Continue this process for about 15 minutes.

You should feel the abrassiveness of the Brasso on the CD as you are doing this. If not, then use a different papertowel. The brasso is removing part of the plastic from the disc not adding to it. You are actually scraping away part of the CD which makes the existing scratches smaller.

After 15 minutes or so, Rince the CD off under water and check the CD. The brasso will have left small scratches on the disc as it wore down the CD. Keep going until the deep scratches are gone, and all that remains are the marks from the brasso. (they will diminish as you continue and get an even surface again).

When done, rince the disc, and wipe it with the soft eyeglass cloth.

Step 3: Insert CD Into CD-ROM Drive and Test.

Take your polished, rinsed and dried CD and test it in your CD ROM. If it still doesn't work go back to step #2.

As you see by my example, I was successful at pulling the data off my CD-ROM.

I have not attempted this on DVDs or video console games. Please do this at your own risk. results will vary on your patience, and polishing technique.

Re-surfacing CDs So They Work Again. (2024)

FAQs

Re-surfacing CDs So They Work Again.? ›

Restoring Discs to Like-New

Although polishing a disc does remove a little of the disc surface, it's only a few microns of depth. This means that, if required, a disc can safely be repaired many times over.

How many times can a disc be resurfaced? ›

Restoring Discs to Like-New

Although polishing a disc does remove a little of the disc surface, it's only a few microns of depth. This means that, if required, a disc can safely be repaired many times over.

Can you restore a damaged CD? ›

Apply a very thin layer of Lip-balm / Vaseline / liquid car wax / furniture wax / neutral shoe polish on the shiny playing surface of the CD. If you? ve used any wax, allow it to dry (if specified so by the manufacturer). Using a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, wipe off the excess in a radial motion (inside-to-outside).

How do I restore a CD that skips? ›

How to Clean CDs That Skip
  1. Wash your hands with soap and water first.
  2. Wipe the surface with a clean cloth.
  3. Try dish soap and water.
  4. Try isopropyl alcohol for a deep clean.
  5. Use a Magic Eraser if the CD is scratched.
  6. Clean the CD drive if it's dirty.
  7. Store the CD in a protective case.

Can you resurface a CD? ›

First get you CD and smear the toothpaste on the scratched surface (NOT TOO MUCH, ONLY ENOUGH). Then rub it around a little with your finger in an up and down motion, NOT A CIRCULAR MOTION, IT WILL RUIN THE CODING. Lastly, rinse it off with warm water in an up and down motion. And Voila!

How to fix a CD that won't play? ›

The Compact Disc (CD) Won't Play
  1. Make sure that the disc is inserted correctly with the label side up.
  2. Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the disc. ...
  3. Reinsert the disc, and then press the PLAY button to see if the disc plays. ...
  4. For disc players with a HOLD switch, make sure that the switch is set to the OFF position.
Oct 11, 2021

Can you rerupture a disc? ›

StatPearls Publishing notes, “There are characteristic findings to herniated discs all along the vertebrae. The patient will likely recall an inciting injury, often due to lifting or twisting.” And if lifting or twisting can lead to a herniated disc in the first place, it can most certainly re-injure them.

How many times can you rewrite a CD? ›

Currently, CD-RW discs can be rewritten approximately 1000 times. What is the shelf life of unrecorded CD-R and CD-RW discs? The unrecorded shelf life of a CD-R or CD-RW disc is conservatively estimated to be between 5 and 10 years.

Can disc be regenerated? ›

Since a degenerate disc cannot regenerate itself, external devices may provide conditions for biological attempts of regeneration.

Why is my old CD not reading? ›

A dirty or scratched disc surface is the most common reason for a CD/DVD issue when inserted into a computer. Check the disc for damage and confirm that the disc is compatible with your computer. Clean the disc and check for damage: Clean any dust or smudges from the disc with filtered water and a lint free cloth.

How to make unreadable CD readable? ›

If you have access to an incandescent 60W bulb, exposing the scratched disc to the heat can soften the plastic a little, potentially enabling the data to be read. Fill the scratch with a wax-based product. Lip balm, shoe polish, and other wax-based products can fill the scratch in much the same way as toothpaste.

How to make a disc readable? ›

Polish the game disc and fill in small scratches using oil-based substances like toothpaste, petroleum jelly, carnauba car wax, or banana. Use a disc scratch-repair machine to fix deeper scratches, or pay for your disc to be resurfaced professionally to ensure it is preserved correctly.

Can you clean CDs with alcohol wipes? ›

If water does not remove everything then a more powerful cleaner such as isopropyl alcohol can be used, but this should only be used in the most extreme of cases. Dedicated CD and DVD wipes are also available which are already coated in a suitable cleaning solution.

Why do old CDs stop working? ›

Disc rot is the tendency of CD, DVD, or other optical discs to become unreadable because of chemical deterioration. The causes include oxidation of the reflective layer, reactions with contaminants, ultra-violet light damage, and de-bonding of the adhesive used to adhere the layers of the disc together.

What causes a CD to stop playing? ›

If the disc still will not play, depending on the location of your CD player, the issue can also be caused by condensation. Open the disc compartment and let the unit sit for about one hour to allow any condensation to dissipate. If the unit does not play any of the discs, the laser pick up may be dirty.

How do I get my CD player to work again? ›

The four primary fixes you can do to a CD player include cleaning a CD, cleaning the lens, cleaning the tray, and replacing the tray motor.

How do I fix my CD drive not working? ›

Table of Contents:
  1. Verify that the optical drive is recognized in Device Manager.
  2. Set the Auto-Play settings in windows to defaults.
  3. Disable the DMA mode of the optical drive.
  4. Install the latest BIOS update on your computer.
  5. Update or reinstall the driver for the optical drive.
Apr 15, 2024

Why do CDs stop working? ›

Fingerprints, smudges, scratches, dirt, dust, solvents, moisture, and any other foreign material can interfere with the ability of the laser to read the data. They can also interfere with the ability of the laser to follow the data track in the disc.

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