
Part 2: How to Fix a Scratched CD/DVD
- Solution 1: Wax the scratched CD/DVD. This is a temporary solution. So, you need to back up the data on the scratched CD/DVD when this solution works.
- Solution 2: Clean the scratched CD/DVD. Sometimes, your CD/DVD is not scratched really. Perhaps, it can’t play properly due to dust, oil, or other contaminants on its surface.
- Solution 3: Refinish the scratched CD/DVD. If the above two solutions can’t help you out, you can take the scratched CD/DVD to a CD/DVD store and let the professional refinish ...
- Solution 4: Change the CD/DVD Player. Sometimes, an old CD/DVD player may scratch your discs. ...
Full Answer
How do you fix a broken DVD?
You can use wax and polish and sometimes glue and tape to repair a scratched or broken DVD. Deep scratches may not be repairable, and may require professional help. Discs broken into two or more pieces are generally not repairable.
How do you fix a cracked CD?
Method 2 Method 2 of 4: Polishing with Abrasive Compounds
- Decide which compound you will use. A number of common household products can be used to polish the CD, but 3M rubbing compound and Brasso are probably the most ...
- Apply the polishing compound to a cloth. Put a small amount of 3M compound or Brasso on a soft, clean, lint-free cloth.
- Polish the CD. ...
- Remove the polishing product from the disc. ...
How can I recover data from cracked DVD?
How To Fix: Recover Data From a Scratched or Damaged CD or DVD
- Let’s make a mess. First, we’ll make a CD with some public domain documents, video and audio files. ...
- Clean it. The main rule for cleaning is simple to state but may be difficult to execute. ...
- Make a rescue image of the disc. You still can’t read the disc. ...
- Tools. ...
- Second Pass. ...
- Try another CD/DVD player to get even more
- Third Pass. ...
- Fourth Pass. ...
How to repair a scratched CD or DVD?
- Step 1: Clear covered dust on the CD or DVD disc with a jewelry cloth.
- Step 2: Re-insert the CD or DVD to the DVD player or computer CD-ROM, check if the disc is accessible.
- If yes, congratulations. ...
- If not, move on the next step.
- Step 3: Check the surface of unreadable or scratched CD or DVD, determine the repair method that you'll need.

Can a crack in a DVD be repaired?
You can use wax and polish and sometimes glue and tape to repair a scratched or broken DVD. Deep scratches may not be repairable, and may require professional help. Discs broken into two or more pieces are generally not repairable.
How do you fix a cracked disc?
0:000:36How To Fix A Cracked Disk - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSmall amount of superglue. You can flip it over and do the other side as well so after you did thatMoreSmall amount of superglue. You can flip it over and do the other side as well so after you did that go ahead and wipe it. Off. Not all the way off though just wipe it lightly wait for the glue to dry.
Can a broken CD be restored?
You can increase the likelihood of a successful recovery by using the same drive that was used to write the disc. If you cannot recover data using any of the recovery tools, take your CD to a music store with a CD refinishing machine. The refinishing process may enable the disc to be read.
Can you resurface a DVD?
3:495:38DIY CD DVD Resurfacing for Cheap | BeatTheBush - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust put some of that on. So that's probably enough for the whole disc I'm going to take thatMoreJust put some of that on. So that's probably enough for the whole disc I'm going to take that microfiber cloth and wrap it around my finger. And just work that in there. And you want to give that a
How does Vaseline remove scratches from CDs?
Remove Scratches From a CD/DVD With Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)Step 1: Materials. Before you start removing scratches from your CDs and DVDs, you should grab your materials. ... Step 2: Cleaning Time! Now it's time to apply the petroleum jelly. ... Step 3: Remove the Scratches. ... Step 4: Finished!
Does toothpaste fix scratch?
Yes, toothpaste can remove minor paint scratches. Here's how it works. A standard toothpaste (not a gel toothpaste) has a minor grit to it which helps buff out the scratches. Typically, minor scratches are only on the clear coat over your actual paint.
Does toothpaste fix scratched discs?
Toothpaste is just abrasive enough to wear down scratched areas to a smoother surface. Small scratches and scuff marks are much easier to repair than deep gouges. Some CD repair services can repair the disc with a special buffing machine, but these are hard to use without causing damage.
How do you fix a scratched DVD with chapstick?
Using Lip Balm (Chapstick) Rinse your disc off with running water. Lip balm often works to fill scratches in game discs. First, remove any excess dirt and grime by rinsing the disc off with running water.
What is a cracked disc?
A true herniated disc (also called a ruptured or slipped disc) occurs when the disc annulus cracks or ruptures, allowing the gel-filled center to squeeze out. Sometimes the herniation is so severe that a free fragment occurs, meaning a piece has broken completely free from the disc and is in the spinal canal.
How do you fix a damaged Xbox one disc?
Xbox consoles use a laser to gather data from the surface of your Xbox game discs. If your disc is scratched, the laser is refracted and will result in skipping or a failure to play. You can use toothpaste to sand down the plastic around the scratch, allowing the laser to read the disc again.
How to fix a scratched DVD?
Sometimes you can save a scratched DVD with a little effort. You can use wax and polish and sometimes glue and tape to repair a scratched or broken DVD. Deep scratches may not be repairable, and may require professional help. Discs broken into two or more pieces are generally not repairable.
How to buff a disc?
Hold the disc firmly and use a polishing cloth (not a paper towel, napkin or tissue paper) to buff gently in a back-and-forth motion. Avoid using a circular motion or you may make the damage worse.
How to hold a disc together?
Apply light pressure with your fingers to make sure the pieces are contacting each other, and then apply Scotch tape to the label side of the disc to hold the pieces together.
What do professional disc cleaners do?
Professionals use a disc cleaner/polisher that spins the disc, cleans it and polishes it . You can purchase one of these devices from a variety of sources. Professional services can be found that offer disc resurfacing, for a fee. Send them the scratched disc and they will resurface it.
Can you glue a DVD to a CD?
Success, again, depends on the damage to the disc. When applying glue to a disc, do so sparingly. Excess glue must be removed carefully, following manufacturer's instructions. Discs rotate at high speeds inside the DVD/CD drive, and if they are unbalanced they may not play properly or might damage the drive.
How to recover data from scratched CD?
Recovering data from a scratched CD or DVD in Windows isn't easy. One good option is IsoBuster, which can create a byte-by-byte copy of your disc's contents.
How to clean a disc?
Clean the disc using a soft lint-free cloth and a dab of warm water and mild detergent. This is the most reliable fix, as it is the most common. You wouldn't believe how much trouble greasy hands and food residue can cause!
How to soften scratches on 60W lightbulb?
Soften scratches with heat from a 60W lightbulb. 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.
What are the two types of scratches on a CD?
Two Types of CD/DVD Scratches. Scratches on optical media generally come in two broad types: perpendicular, and those that run along the grooves. Perpendicular scratches: these run from the center to the edge of the disc.
What is optical disc?
In general, an optical disc is a sandwich. While the design differs depending on whether it is a CD, DVD, Blu-ray, or a derivative, the principle is consistent. A layer of aluminum (or similar material) is sandwiched between two layers of polycarbonate plastic.
How to backup a DVD to a computer?
This archives it as a disk image on your computer. Open Disk Utility, select the disc in the left-hand pane, then File > New Image. Follow the steps to name the DVD file, select a save location, then Save to start the backup. Once done, you'll be able to mount the disc image without requiring the physical disc.
What to use to fill scratches in a sandbox?
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 repair a scratched DVD?
You can use wax and polish and sometimes glue and tape to repair a scratched or broken DVD. Deep scratches may not be repairable, and may require professional help. Discs broken into two or more pieces are generally not repairable.
What happens if a DVD is cracked?
If the crack exists in a part of the disc where data is written to, the dvd will not be playable or repairable.
How to tell if a DVD is under a lamp?
Holding the underside of a dvd under a lamp or a under a light, on an angle, you will see starting from the inner circumference of the underside of the dvd expanding outward is the data. Where data is written to a disc the disc will be slightly darker.
How to fix a crack in a disc?
You only hope that the crack is small and is in the non-data outer, or non-data absolute inner-circumference of the disc. Apply a tiny amount of plastic glue to the crack, using a pin or toothpick. Try to work the glue into the crack, if possible. Wipe away excess glue.
What would happen if a disc held information that was critical to national security?
If this disc held information that was critical to national security or something like that, well- maybe extraordinary measures could be taken to extract the data. Such measures would likely involve an enormous amount of manhours, cost, time, and special equipment (maybe microscopes, lasers, optical scanners, specialized software to interpret each and every pit and valley on the disc). And, even then, the data would not be perfect enough to run the software.
Is ripping a DVD physical damage?
Ripping DVD may also include circumventing the copy protection that is built into many DVDs. Again, there is no physical damage, as the act of circumventing the copy protection is done by software.
Is ripping a DVD the same as playing it?
Ripping a DVD is basically very similar to playing it. There is no physical damage to it unless there is something wrong with the player, in which case same damage will be done by just playing it as well.
How to fix a DVD that is damaged?
Decide whether your DVD can be fixed, or whether it has irreparable damage. (For more on this, see above.) 2. Clean the DVD. Use a soft cloth and some very clean water. You can also use alcohol, but many cleaning solvents can damage the discs. ...
How to fix a DVD that has scratches?
Decide whether your DVD can be fixed, or whether it has irreparable damage. As mentioned above, disks with scratches that go deep will not be able to be mended. To assess the damage, hold the disk up in the sunlight. If sunlight shines through the scratch, the DVD is unlikely to be mended.
How to clean a disk of jewelry?
Get a plain enamel-cleaning paste at your local drugstore. The grit inside toothpaste helps to clean and buff the surface of the disk. Apply toothpaste across the radius until the entire disk is covered. Let the toothpaste dry. Then, rinse it clean and buff with your jewelry cleaning cloth across the radius.
How to remove scratches from DVD?
Buy a professional DVD scratch polish, such as SkipDr. Apply the product across the radius. Allow it to sit according to package directions, so that the outer layer of disk will be removed. Rinse and/or buff the disk with the jewelry cloth.
How to polish a car with rubbing polish?
Buy rubbing polish from an automotive store. Apply a small amount of the compound. Rub it across the radius until it covers the entire surface. Allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then, rinse and rub with a soft cloth. Use this product in a well-ventilated area, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after polishing.
How to clean a DVD player?
Hold the disk from the sides with your non-dominant hand. Then, gently wipe the disk from the center to the edges, across the radius, using the jewelry cloth. Continue wiping around the disk, from inside to outside, until the entire disk has been cleaned. Insert the disk into your DVD player.
Can a DVD be mended?
If sunlight shines through the scratch, the DVD is unlikely to be mended. Scratches that are circular, around the laser track, are more likely to result in a permanently damaged disk. Small scratches that run across the radius are easier to fix. 2.
Why is my DVD not scratching?
Sometimes, your CD/DVD is not scratched really. Perhaps, it can’t play properly due to dust, oil, or other contaminants on its surface. In this situation, you can just clean the CD/DVD disc to fix it. You can wash your CD/DVD with warm water to remove dust from its surface.
What to use to clean a scratched CD?
Lip balm, Vaseline, liquid car wax, furniture wax and neutral shoe polish can be used to wax the scratched CD/DVD. Just choose the one that you have on hand and then apply a very thin layer on the shiny side of the scratched CD/DVD. When the layer is dry, you can use a piece of clean, soft and lint-free cloth to wipe off the excess from inside to outside on the surface.
What is the best software to recover a CD?
In this post, we recommend you to use the free data recovery software - MiniTool Power Data Recovery – to recover data from corrupted or scratched CD/DVD.
What to do if you forget the name of a file?
If you forget the name of the file you want to recover, you can try Filter function to find your wanted files. After clicking this function, this software will pop out an Advanced Filter interface
How to clean dust off a CD?
If water can’t wash off the dust effectively, you can choose to use a mild detergent or soap water.
Do CDs get scratched?
In real life, these CDs/DVDs are expensive and meaningful for you. However, as time goes on, CDs/DVDs tend to be corrupted or scratched seriously.
Can you copy a scratched CD?
In many cases, a scratched CD/DVD can be fixed and you can copy the data on it to a safe place to avoid data loss issue. In this part, we summarize some solutions to fix a scratched CD/DVD. Please keep reading:
What to do if you have a crack in your ring?
If the crack is just on the inner ring and not at the data point, I would try superglue. Very little, spread on w/ a toothpick or something similar, on both sides of the crack. Just enough to seal the crack and no more.
Do studios send replacements?
Sometimes the studios will send out replacements when that happens. Worth a shot.
Is it cheap to replace a craked disc?
The only problem with that is if you have a set. One disc craked and the others are fine. That is not cheap to replace.
Can glue be used on plastic?
As for fixing, glue might work but make sure it says it can be used on plastic.
Does super glue help cracks?
Actually, a little super glue might be enough to keep the crack from getting any bigger.
