• About
  • Contact
  • Cookie
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Change the purpose of use

Tnhelearning.edu.vn - Various useful general information portal

  • Photo
  • Bio
  • How To
  • Tech

How to Fix a Scratched CD

February 12, 2024 by admin Category: How To

You are viewing the article How to Fix a Scratched CD  at Tnhelearning.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.

X

This article is co-authored by a team of editors and trained researchers who confirm the accuracy and completeness of the article.

The wikiHow Content Management team carefully monitors the work of editors to ensure that every article is up to a high standard of quality.

This article has been viewed 19,396 times.

Scratches on CDs are a lot of trouble – your beloved CD has lost its best songs, or you’re dealing with an important document or program that’s in danger of being lost. You can find a lot of suggestions on the internet on how to deal with the problem, but we have found the 3 most effective and gathered them here. You can simply polish the CD with a bit of toothpaste, if that doesn’t work, try an abrasive compound or wax the surface of the disc.

Table of Contents

  • Steps
    • Use toothpaste
    • Polishing with abrasive compounds
    • Apply wax
    • Adhesive tape method
  • Advice
  • Warning
  • Things you need

Steps

Use toothpaste

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 1

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 1

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2f/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-1-Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a- Scratched-CD-Step-1-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2f/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-1- Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-1-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :410,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Choose regular toothpaste. You don’t need super white, swirly or flavored ice creams. Choose a basic white paste toothpaste for CD polishing. Any toothpaste that contains corrosive minerals will work!

  • Regular toothpaste is cheaper than flashy advertised products. This is especially useful if you have a lot of CDs to polish. [1] X Research Source
Apply toothpaste to the surface of the CD. Squeeze a small amount of cream onto the scratched plate and spread it evenly with your fingers.
Polish the CD. Hit the ball in an outward motion from the center of the disc, moving gradually around the disc. Starting from the center of the disc, rub in a straight line to the outside of the disc.
Rinse and dry the CD. Place the CD under warm running water and rinse, then dry the disc with a soft, clean cloth. Double-check to make sure the disc is not damp and that there are no traces of toothpaste left.

  • After washing and drying the CD, use a soft cloth to polish the surface of the disc.

Polishing with abrasive compounds

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 5

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 5

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6e/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-5-Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a- Scratched-CD-Step-5-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6e/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-5- Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-5-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :410,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Choose the compound that you will use. Some common household products can be used to polish CDs, but 3M and Brasso compounds are probably the most reliable. You can also use fine-grained polishing compounds for cars or hard surfaces.

  • If using Brasso, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area and avoid inhaling the fumes. Be sure to read the safety instructions and warnings on chemical products, as many (such as rubbing alcohol) are flammable and/or cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. [2] X Research Source
READ More:   How to Deal with Cat Bites
Apply polishing compound to the fabric. Apply a small amount of 3M or Brasso compound to a clean, soft, and smooth cloth. An old t-shirt or eyeglasses will work. [3] X Research Sources
Polish the CD. Use gentle outward motions from the center of the disc to rub the compound into the scratch. Start at the center of the disc and work your way out in a straight line like the spokes on a wheel. Rub this 10-12 times around the CD, trying to focus only on the scratches you spot.

  • When polishing a CD, be sure to place the disc on a flat and stable surface that is not rough. Data stored on aluminum foil or the colored layers on the CD surface (labeled side) and the protective top layer can be easily scratched. You may break or peel the disc if you press the CD against a surface that is too soft.
  • Scrubbing in a circular motion (as opposed to moving from the center of the disc straight out) can cause small scratches on the CD, deflecting the player’s lasers.
Rinse the polishing product off the CD. Rinse the CD thoroughly with warm water and dry. Be sure to rinse off the solution thoroughly and allow the disc to dry completely before running the disc. If using Brasso, simply wipe off the solution on the plate and wait for the rest to dry, then use a clean cloth to wipe it again.
Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 9

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 9

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/29/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-9-Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a- Scratched-CD-Step-9-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/29/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-9- Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-9-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :410,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Try running the disc. If the problem persists, polish again 15 minutes or until the scratch is almost gone. The surface around the scratch will begin to shine with many tiny scratches. If there’s still no improvement after a few minutes of polishing, the scratch is probably too deep or you’re polishing the scratch by mistake.

  • If the disc still doesn’t work, you need to take it to a professional at a game store or CD repair shop.

Apply wax

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 10

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 10

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3f/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-10-Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a- Scratched-CD-Step-10-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3f/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-10- Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-10-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :410,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Determine if the waxing method is appropriate. Sometimes, you will need to remove the plastic layer on the disc by polishing. However, removing too much resin can affect the refractive properties of the lenses resulting in unreadable data. Waxing the scratches can be useful, because even if the disc has visible imperfections, the lasers can still read through/around them. [4] X Research Sources
Apply wax to the scratches. Apply a very thin layer of Vaseline, lip balm, car polish, colorless shoe polish or furniture wax to the surface of the CD. Leave the wax on the scratches for a few minutes – remember the goal here is to apply wax to the scratch so that the disc can be read again. [5] X Research Sources
Wipe off excess wax. Use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth to wipe in a straight line from the center of the disc to the edge of the disc. If using wax, follow the manufacturer’s instructions (some products require waiting for the wax to dry before wiping, others need to be wiped wet.).
Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 13

READ More:   How to Confess to a Girl Without Getting Rejected

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 13

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/09/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-13-Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a- Scratched-CD-Step-13-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/09/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-13- Version-7.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-13-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :410,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Try playing the disc again. If Vaseline wax or cream works, burn to a new disc immediately. Waxing is only a temporary solution to keep the CD working long enough to transfer the data to the computer or to another disc.

Adhesive tape method

Before handling, you should understand the fact that punctures in the aluminum plate of the disc cannot be repaired, even if you take it to a professional service. The best way to get through is to jump over these locations so that you can at least read and back up the rest of the data somewhere.

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 14

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 14

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/70/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-14-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a- Scratched-CD-Step-14-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/70/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-14- Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-14-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :410,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Hold the plate in a bright and easy-to-see place, with the bright side of the plate facing up.
Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 15

Image titled Fix a Scratched CD Step 15

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/aa/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-15-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a- Scratched-CD-Step-15-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/aa/Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-15- Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Fix-a-Scratched-CD-Step-15-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :410,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
Look for any visible marks on the bright side of the disc.
Turn the plate over and use a marker to mark the locations of the holes.
  • Tear off 2 pieces of paper tape and stick it on top of each other at the position you just marked.

    • Note: The CD may sound while playing, but at least you should be able to read 70% of the data on it.
  • Advice

    • To avoid damage to the CD, you must remember to always hold it by the side of the disc.
    • Severely damaged CDs may not be salvageable. Scratches and cracks that are too deep to reach the aluminum layer of the disc will render the disc useless. In fact, the Disc Eraser tool uses a way to damage the aluminum layer to make CDs and DVDs unreadable!
    • It doesn’t matter much to practice repairing scratched CDs before you start repairing the discs you love.
    • Try “Mr. Clean Magic Eraser” dry eraser pad to remove scratches. Apply light pressure and rub from the center of the disc to the edge of the disc like other polishing operations as described above. You can then polish the repaired area to shine using other methods such as polishing or waxing.
    • It is better to back up your data before damage occurs.
    • If the CD can’t be repaired, use it as a coaster! Read articles on how to reuse old CDs to discover good ideas.
    • Usually you can take your Xbox discs straight to Microsoft for a new disc for about $20. [6] X Research Sources
    • Instead of toothpaste, try peanut butter. The greasy stickiness of peanut butter makes it an effective polishing compound. Be sure to choose the very smooth one!
    • When using toothpaste, be sure to use one that does not contain particles or minerals – just plain white toothpaste.
    • You can use a dedicated iPad or iPhone wipe instead of a lens wipe.
    READ More:   How to get rid of unwanted erection

    Warning

    • To prevent damage to the CD, you need to make sure it is completely dry and free of excess polish before attempting to play the disc.
    • Do not apply solvent to the surface of the CD, as it will change the chemical composition of the ppycarbonate layer, making the disc surface opaque and unreadable!
    • Note that any repair method may cause further damage. Remember to follow the steps carefully.
    • If you hold the CD to strong light to check for damage on the aluminum, do not look at the light for too long. A 60-100 W bulb is enough for you to see the dents in the aluminum. Do not expose the plate to the sun!

    Things you need

    • Clean, soft and lint-free fabric (microfibre is ideal)
    • Water (or rubbing alcohol)
    • Brasso metal polish, fine polishing compound or toothpaste
    • Liquid Car Polish or Vaseline Cream
    • Cotton gloves or nylon food processing gloves (for easier handling of the CD and no fingerprints)
    X

    This article is co-authored by a team of editors and trained researchers who confirm the accuracy and completeness of the article.

    The wikiHow Content Management team carefully monitors the work of editors to ensure that every article is up to a high standard of quality.

    This article has been viewed 19,396 times.

    Scratches on CDs are a lot of trouble – your beloved CD has lost its best songs, or you’re dealing with an important document or program that’s in danger of being lost. You can find a lot of suggestions on the internet on how to deal with the problem, but we have found the 3 most effective and gathered them here. You can simply polish the CD with a bit of toothpaste, if that doesn’t work, try an abrasive compound or wax the surface of the disc.

    Thank you for reading this post How to Fix a Scratched CD at Tnhelearning.edu.vn You can comment, see more related articles below and hope to help you with interesting information.

    Related Search:

    Related Posts

    How to Create Curved Text in Photoshop
    How to fall asleep faster
    How to Install FBReader to Read eBooks

    Category: How To

    Previous Post: « Top 5 Nature Republic skin care products that effectively moisturize
    Next Post: Top 13 delicious lunch restaurants in Bac Tu Liem district that many locals love »

    Copyright © 2025 · Tnhelearning.edu.vn - Useful Knowledge