how to repair holes in official dvd label side

[SmurfRecorder]

I have an old PC game on DVD (not CD), and the label side has some very small holes in it that I can see through. When I try to read the disc, I get bad sectors, and the game won't install because some files are unreadable. (tried disc images and some recovery programs)
I read somewhere that this happens because the laser has no reflective layer in those spots and passes straight through. And I read somewhere about fixing CDs with painting over them with something, but now I can't find source. Is that true?
Can this be fixed by painting over the holes? Maybe with nail polish?
(Btw, the disc isn't very valuable, so I'm willing to experiment with it,
and the disc is not scratched too much on bottom side...)

[ProWo]

I have an old PC game on DVD (not CD), and the label side has some very small holes in it that I can see through. When I try to read the disc, I get bad sectors, and the game won't install because some files are unreadable. (tried disc images and some recovery programs)

The DVD is shot; you can forget about restoring it.
Search for the game in online archives, for example:
https://archive.org/details/classicpcgames
https://www.myabandonware.com/
aso...

[SmurfRecorder]

I tried reading disc again today and...The disc image completed at max speed without errors. I was excited, but tried again at 4x speed and unfortunately still read errors.
I can browse this problematic cab file through 7-zip. Unfortunately installing crashing about missing file in that cab.
So I think I will download game somewhere (btw. game is not available in Steam, GOG, etc.)

[cholla]

Although this is not the best thing to do to a disc.
Have you tried these to cover the holes?
DVD_Labels

Or give IsoPuzzle a try to see if it will rip the disc bit by bit.

[johnmeyer]

You should also try it in multiple DVD drives, if possible. There used to be quite a variation in how well different DVD drives would read failing discs.

[cholla]

You should also try it in multiple DVD drives, if possible. There used to be quite a variation in how well different DVD drives would read failing discs.

This is where IsoPuzzle shines.
It can work on the same DVD with several different drives.
Meaning you change drives 3 use the same .ISO & .flg file.

[dellsam34]

If the can see the holes with your eyes chances are the data loss is huge and cannot be recovered by error correction, Some copying programs can be set to ignore lost data pockets but the resulting copy is not guaranteed to work. Just get another game and move on.