scratch removal : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

DVDs (Digital Video Discs) and CDs can become scratched. Most players then have trouble with them. The data itself, encoded with tiny holes in a thin metal film, are not damaged. It is just the plastic sandwich that is scratched. The DVD (Digital Video Disc) player can’t see clearly through the scratched plastic. To repair the disc, all you have to do is polish out the scratches or fill in the cracks with liquid plastic. Here are some techniques to repair discs:

Clean Player Lens

If you are having trouble with all discs, even ones not badly scratched, the problem is in your player. Chances are it has dust on the laser lens. You can try blasting it off with a shot of canned air. If that does not work you can clean it with a microfibre cloth. However, that requires some minor disassembly.

How to Clean your DVD player laser lens 

Copy the Disc

The DVD and CD players on computers will use additional information on the disk to recover. If you copy the disc, the new one will be completely free of flaws. The catch is if the disc is copy protected, you cannot use this method. Further, if there is a really bad flaw, copy just aborts. It does not copy what it can. If there are flaws, the copy process take much longer than usual.

Vaseline

This is a temporary emergency measure for data discs. You wipe Vaseline over the disc. It fills in the scratches. You must be careful to wipe off any excess or you will contaminate the inside of your DVD player. Make a copy of the disk, then discard the original. It might be wise to clean the DVD heads afterwards.

Toothpaste

Use some old-fashioned white toothpaste. Polish the scratches out of the disc, rubbing from center to edge, (not around in a circle). Then carefully wash it off and let the disc dry. I tried this. It left many visible scratches, but the disc was sufficiently improved to start playing again.

Sandpaper

Use 3000 grit sandpaper followed by rubbing compond applied with a soft cloth. The advantage of this technique is you focus just the amount of attention needed for each scratch.

Repairing DVDs with sandpaper 

Machines

Machines automate the polishing process, often using various different grits and cleaning chemicals. The high end ones cost over $7000, but there are ones in the $35 range. Most people who repair a lot of discs use a machine that costs at least $100.

electronic link to Digital Innovations 4070300 SkipDr for DVD and CD Motorized Disc Repair System

	recommend electronic⇒Digital Innovations 4070300 SkipDr for DVD and CD Motorized Disc Repair System
	asin	B0041A3JR6
It is designed to repair 25 discs then you throw it away. It runs off batteries, but it works better if you provide your own AC adapter.
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Greyed out stores probably do not have the item in stock

electronic link to Simo Tek VD Repair Machine / Kit

	recommend electronic⇒Simo Tek VD Repair Machine / Kit
	asin	B000GX31G6
aka Simotech, aka Simotek, aka Simo Tech, comes recommended. Used even commercially. It uses three types of polishing creme, four types of polishing pads and cleaning solution. There are many companies with similar names. This one is http://www.simo.com.tw/. Despite the name, it is not suitable for treating sexually transmitted diseases. Made in China with Chinglish documentation.
Online electronic stores carrying Simo Tek VD Repair Machine / Kit amazon.com bestbuy.ca amazon.ca canadacomputers.com amazon.de ncix.ca amazon.es newegg.ca amazon.fr www.staples.ca amazon.it tigerdirect.ca amazon.co.uk bestbuy.com junglee.com ncixus.com other stores newegg.com www.staples.com tigerdirect.com
Greyed out stores probably do not have the item in stock

electronic link to JFJ Easy Pro Universal CD/DVD Repair Machine 110V

	recommend electronic⇒JFJ Easy Pro Universal CD/DVD Repair Machine 110V
	asin	B000RBE4B8
Consumables cost about 20 cents to repair a disc. Uses two different polishings solutions and two types of buffer pads and cleaner.
Online electronic stores carrying JFJ Easy Pro Universal CD/DVD Repair Machine 110V amazon.com bestbuy.ca amazon.ca canadacomputers.com amazon.de ncix.ca amazon.es newegg.ca amazon.fr www.staples.ca amazon.it tigerdirect.ca amazon.co.uk bestbuy.com junglee.com ncixus.com other stores newegg.com www.staples.com tigerdirect.com
Greyed out stores probably do not have the item in stock

electronic link to Square Deal Recordings and Supplies RTI CD and DVD DiscCheck Resurfacing Machine - Eco Senior

	recommend electronic⇒Square Deal Recordings and Supplies RTI CD and DVD DiscCheck Resurfacing Machine - Eco Senior
	asin	B001J5ZIRK
This is a very expensive model. It both repairs discs and checks them. It uses a wet grinding process. The machine is fully automatic so you don’t have to fiddle about inserting pads and and grinding chemicals. This is something library or DVD rental company might use to continuously repair discs in about 2 minutes each.
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Greyed out stores probably do not have the item in stock

Have a look on eBay too.

Read-Ahead Buffer

In theory a movie-playing DVD player could read ahead. If it ran into trouble, it would have time to take measures to recover data before it needed to show the damaged part on screen. However, I can find no real world players that do this.

Another technique would be to try a different angle on the laser if there is trouble, trying to see the metal film through a non-scratched part of the plastic. Again, I know of no players that do this.