Cure for unrippable DVDs ?

[cyflyer]

Loads of scratches on the original DVD, error "cyclic redundundancy etc" constantly when trying to rip with Shrink. Advised try Decrypter, reduce speed. Thanks, but the result was still the same. Time for drastic experiment, the DVD was scratched and bin fodder anyway. 1. Real serious polish with Brasso 2. Polish with car dash silicone type polish 3. For extra measure a couple of coats of car wax !
Re-rip with Shrink....and I'll be damned if it didn't rip perfectly first attempt !!!
Any other home recipes for scratched discs out there .....?

[SaSi]

Well, I rather prefer to use old-fashioned white toothpaste applied with a cotton cloth.

It smells much better and it is not as "agressive" a polisher, meaning that the wiping cannot by mistake "polish" too much and create additional scratches.

In any case, the whole idea behind fixing scratched disks is to remove the surface defect (scratch) by polishing. It is quite safe to scratch a few tenths of a millimeter from the bottom cover of the disk but the work needs to be focused in the defect area, as trying to polish a good spot will deteriorate it.

[redwudz]

I think you have the process down pretty well. I work on the deep scratches first and try to get them smoothed out, then polish the entire disc evenly. Car wax fills in the micro scratches from the polishing. The plastic layer is relatively thick on the bottom of the disc, and besides, you have little to lose at that point. Never polish in a circular motion, only side to side. The hand powered 'grinders' are OK for the final polish, but doing it all by hand is a lot safer.

[DVD_Ripper]

I've used some Simonize "swirl and haze remover" type products with very good success.

Make sure a very soft cloth on the table where data side is touching.

Has anyone used (tried and seen in action) the "Dr Disc" products I've seen for $30-$40.00 (battery and manual) scratch removers?

[Gurm]

White toothpaste works for me. I prefer not to do anything TOO drastic to the disc.

Those "Dr. Disc" products work tolerably well, but are useless for serious scratches.

- Gurm

[stackner]

i have always used white toothpaste also.
but another option that is a little hit and miss. sometimes it works and sometimes it does not work is to use a program called DVDXRESCUE. many disc's it has ripped straight away. some it has taken over night but HAS ripped them an then some it still will ot rip but is worth a go.

cheers

[cyflyer]

I suppose everyone has their own recipes, as long as they work. Sasi, you've got to get 'aggressive' with these scratches otherwise you're blowing into the wind. I hope you guys with the "toothpaste" are not using a toothbrush also ! (any particular brand ?- only kidding !).
Mine worked for me so I'll try it again. Pity they don't make some commercial product that fills the scratches. Anyone thought of spraying clear laquer on the disc ? Interested to hear the results from that if anyone does....

[stackner]

I suppose everyone has their own recipes, as long as they work. Sasi, you've got to get 'aggressive' with these scratches otherwise you're blowing into the wind. I hope you guys with the "toothpaste" are not using a toothbrush also ! (any particular brand ?- only kidding !).
Mine worked for me so I'll try it again. Pity they don't make some commercial product that fills the scratches. Anyone thought of spraying clear laquer on the disc ? Interested to hear the results from that if anyone does....

lol no like someone else posted we use a cloth or such.
but the toothpaste does not filly the scratches it sorta buffs them out a little.

but i also would like to hear if anyone trys a spray of laquer or similer....

[Fluffbutt]

I've found the best solution to be that car polish called "cut & polish".

It's the one that takes off the buggered old layer of paint to reveal a nice shiny layer.

It does the same with dvd's - just polish on with a cotton bud, and wash it off with warm water, then buff dry. Repeat as needed - i had a bad scratch that needed 5 go-overs, but it worked in the end!

[Floydscruffy]

warning severe drastic measure.

tried on on a couple of audio disks but never on a dvd. After toothpaste, and brasso, which Ive tried and it seems that no more measures are available other than trowing disk away try passing a lighter under the scratch. Off course dont over heat the disk. after all is either that or throwing it away.

[Gurm]

Essentially what you're trying to accomplish here...

If the scratch goes all the way INTO the data layer you're screwed. Go get another disc.

But if not, you're attempting to render the plastic translucent enough for the laser to pass through it once more.

Toothpaste fills in the cracks, as does the polish. The thing I like about the toothpaste is that I can wash it away later - I'm not doing anything drastic to the disc. But in the event that it doesn't work, something that actually bonds to the plastic, such as some of these polishes and/or sealers, is fine. There are a lot of products that work.

Many companies sell "CD Repair Kits", which are essentially a polymer polish that fills in and/or bonds to the scratches.

- Gurm

[cyflyer]

One final thought for today from me on the subject, Why the heck don't they make a more resilient coating on the damned things in the first place, or is it an in built vunerability to keep us buying the DVD's ?
Food for thought: Are original DVD coatings any different to DVD-r coatings, ie is one more scratchable than the other I wonder ?

[guns1inger]

It can be done. TDK produce armour plated disks (DVD-R 2x). I have started using these for keeping masters (too expensive at the moment for general use). While I have not given them the tough treatment, one reviewer in a reputable local magazine authored on one of these, then went over it with steel wool. Still readable in a variety of set top and PC readers.

[onlinejames]

I actually have a cd repair kit that uses sand paper (wet and dry) but it is very fine, you use 4 different grades for severely damaged disks then you finish with a buffing compound to bring back the shine
works a treat ive got out scratches which looked impossible to repair
works every time

[gshelley61]

I've used an inexpensive clear plastic polish for deep scratches with great results. It is available at auto parts stores and it is intended for clear plastic headlights, taillights, etc. Similar to auto paint polish, but specifically formulated for hard plastics.

[Culley]

I had a cd repair kit, but it was a bit expensive... about $10.00 for a four ounce bottle AND it went to crap after about a year.

I think I'm gonna go out and buy myself some toothpaste!

[npaulie2000]

As the old saying goes "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" This post reminds us all how important it is to protect media from damage in the first place. I am a zealout about always putting discs in storage of some kind so they don't get damaged in the first place. Some people let discs lie around unprotected or worse go out and play frisbee with their dog with the disc. Then leave it in their car in the scorching sun for months. And never clean the laser lens. Then they wonder why something goes wrong! As for toothpaste I don't think I would want to put that back in my drive and risk contamination. Just my two cents. Peace

[RottenFoxBreath]

jeez man,you dont squirt a "pea-sized amount" onto the disc then bang it back in the drive,you polish till its gone...rofl..

[npaulie2000]

jeez man,you dont squirt a "pea-sized amount" onto the disc then bang it back in the drive,you polish till its gone...rofl..

Do not get me started!

[npaulie2000]

Come to think of it. ROFL at your penis.

[cyflyer]

Further to our quiery about trying clear laquer on scratched DVD's, .....I did, and wished I had not ! Stupid me. Clear laquer contains solvents. They don't mix well with plastic DVD coatings. Made a bloody mess of the dvd. DON'T even contemplate trying it !!!!

[Treebeard]

I've used common hand soap on the surface, gently rub on the scratches, wash excess off w/ water, shake water off, let air dry. Worked everytime so far. Suppose its like the toothpaste method.

[MOVIEGEEK]

This stuff works great: www.ccrane.com/plastic-scratch-remover.aspx

First you use #3 to get the heavy scratches then use #2 to remove fine scratches and finally #1 to clean and polish.I also used Novus on my headlight lens and they look brand new.
WARNING:use #3 sparingly because it is very abrasive.

[ViRaL1]

On the topic of PREVENTING scratches, has anyone seen these clear sleeves that you put over your discs? Supposedly the disc is playable with the sleeve on, so the disc is less susceptible to scratches. Saw them at Wally World but I thought I'd see if anyone else had tried them.

[LLoyder]

I bought a liquid solution that works on some scratched disks. But even that won't work on badly scratched dvd's. For that I had to buy that spinning diskDR. The thing was worth every penny. Has fixed even the worst looking dvd's to get them to rip.

[ViRaL1]

Anyone ever tried these?

http:///www.d-skin.com/

I picked up a 5-pack (kinda steep @ $1 a piece), slipped on one Starsky and Hutch, popped it in the DVD player and voila! They're pretty thin, barely increases the thickness of the disk at all. You can keep them on I guess until they're too worn, too dirty or too scratched to use. Just got them so I have no idea how long they last, but I'd think if you're not too terribly abusive, they'd last quite some time. Probably not a solution for kids' DVDs or people who generally mistreat their media. My Toshiba SD-R6012 picked it up too. I haven't checked to see if there are any differences in rip speed, but playability seems unaffected.

[garryheather]

It can be done. TDK produce armour plated disks (DVD-R 2x). I have started using these for keeping masters (too expensive at the moment for general use). While I have not given them the tough treatment, one reviewer in a reputable local magazine authored on one of these, then went over it with steel wool. Still readable in a variety of set top and PC readers.

IIRC, the "Armour" is on the top of the disc in an extra layer of coating applied to the disc. As far as I know, they do nothing to the data side, which is where most people have the problem. On a CD, where the data is nearer the top of the disc than the bottom, this could be a good thing. But on a DVD, it's in the center, and if you make an indentation in the polycarbonate big enough to distort the data layer it is unlikely that an extra spray on coating would have helped anyway... and you really should stop putting DVD's under your speaker spikes to stop them making holes in your carpet !

[ViRaL1]

Damn fingers, one too many slashes.

http://www.d-skin.com/