When you reach the point of a successful test immediately create two back-up copies using either Nero 9, DVDFab or 1 Click DVD Copy. One to be used as "master" that you will keep for archiving so you never have to do this again and one for daily use. The reason it is important to use one of these programs is that they have error correction capabilities built in to the software. They will automatically be correcting any glitches in the DVD structure itself or still coming from the surface so that the copy on the computer will, most likely, be better than what you have on the DVD. Using that corrected data is vital for when you burn a new copy for archiving and daily use.
Repair Scratched CDs-DVDs
The procedures laid out below are to repair scratched DVDs, scratched Cds, scratched game discs or for cleaning up dirty, scuffed or marked DVDs. They are organized into a gradient approach to the problem depending on the severity of the situation you are encountering.
If the problem disc you have is failing to play in a standard DVD player then absolutely the first thing you need to do is try the same disc in the DVD reader of a computer. The reason for this is that these DVD devices are purpose built to read and write DVDs or CDs ONLY. They have no other purpose and as such are far superior to the average DVD player in their ability to read through errors on problem discs. Keep in mind the information provided here at DVD Disc Repair.
Personally I always try Nero 9, DVDFab or 1 Click DVD Copy to check to see if the disc will copy before I embark on any other course of action. Also if I have used one of the repair methods below I check to see the results before proceeding to the next one. Go here for the full DVD Disc Repair procedure.
Before we start you may feel better about some of these more drastic solutions to scratched DVDs if you have a better understanding of exactly what it is that you are doing. The main thing to keep in mind is that you are not actually undertaking some highly technical DVD scratch repair operation requiring a college degree. A DVD is just a burning surface made of a special dye that is sandwiched in between two pieces of clear polycarbonate plastic. The label sits on the outside of one side.
So, these techniques are nothing more than instructions on how to clean, polish or re-surface a piece of clear polycarbonate plastic...pure and simple! The points to remember are that it is a piece of plastic and it is easy to scratch (if you are reading this you probably know that already!) so the key is to be conservative in your approach.
The following list is simply a sequence of solutions to try in order and really are just incremental increases in abrasiveness so make an educated guess and when in doubt, start conservative and go to the more abrasive solutions as you go until a good DVD reading software with correction abilities can get your data back for you.
Use Isopropyl alcohol 99%. Clean with a soft cloth, air dry and test. For very light marks or scuffs you can also use toothpaste (not gel). Rub gently with a soft cloth, finish by buffing with straight strokes from center to outside edge. Rinse, air dry and test.
Take a deep breath and relax!
Now go back to the car polish or Brasso and work over the entire surface again until the shine begins to return to the disc. Clean off the disc with your cloth and re-apply the Brasso or car polish and continue the process until you have restored the full shine back to the disc. Clean it off with isopropyl alcohol and let it air dry for a few minutes. Place in it the DVD drive of your computer and see how DVDFab, 1click DVD Copy go with it. If successful import it to the computer immediately then make new copies.
Breathe a sigh of relief!
Now go back to the car polish or Brasso and work over the entire surface again until the shine begins to return to the disc. Clean off the disc with your cloth and re-apply the Brasso or car polish and continue the process until you have restored the full shine back to the disc. Clean it off with isopropyl alcohol and let it air dry for a few minutes. Place in it the DVD drive of your computer and see how DVDFab, 1click DVD Copy go with it. If successful import it to the computer immediately then make new copies.
Breathe a sigh of relief!
DVD / CD Scratch Repair Software
DVD / CD Scratch Recovery Methods
1. "How many times have I told you guys not to get your greasy fingers on my DVDs!"
At this level all you really need to do is take a weak solution of any dishwashing detergent and give the disc a bath. Try to polish it off after air drying with some optical cloth and you should be good to go.
2. "Good grief!' 'What did you kids get on this disc?' 'What IS that stuff?"
Car wax or furniture polish such as Pledge. Rub gently with a soft cloth, buff to finish with straight strokes from center to outside edge. Do a final clean and polish with isopropyl alcohol 99%, air dry and test.
3. "Dude!' 'What did you do to my disc?' 'What are all those little scratches?"
4. "Honest to God!' 'All I did was put it in the player and it started making this kind of grinding noise!"
Car polish or Brasso. Rub gently with a soft cloth, buff to finish with straight strokes from center to outside edge. Do a final clean with isopropyl alcohol 99%, air dry and test.
5. "I'm looking at this disc and wondering what I did to you that would prompt you to drive over it with your car!"
If you have attempted to repair a scratched DVD and you are still having problems check out the rest of this site for other possible causes. To repair scratched DVDs or CDs may only be the start of the solution but let's hope not!
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Before we get into the actual techniques there are a few steps I always recommend taking to avoid interfering with the surface of the scratched DVD in the first place. The ideal situation would be the data is recovered from the DVD without any physical handling by you but by utilizing specialist software to do the job for you.
Additionally the reading software you may encounter on a particular computer will also be superior in its ability to compensate for DVD disc surface errors. So always try that first and if the disc can be read successfully immediately make a copy of the disc using the recommended software.
So, I always take the lazy route and see if I can simply make a new copy. Similarly I only try the physical correction techniques below in sequence until I can get one of either Nero 9, DVDFab or 1 Click DVD Copy to successfully read the disc.
The average "run of the mill" DVD software is designed to simply read from and/or write to DVDs whereas the software above have been developed with automatic correction in mind. They are fully featured in all other aspects of DVD manipulation and you can see the full array of their features here. DVD Copying Software.
A CD is made from the same polycarbonate plastic and is, in fact, more delicate than a DVD because the burning surface is the underside of the label. If you have a scratched DVD where the scratch is on the label then this does not affect the DVD's playability in any way. The same problem on a CD is fatal and almost always non-recoverable.
Always use a VERY soft cotton or optical grade cloth so that you are not adding to the problem.
Always clean or work the disc over the entire surface, not just the affected area and finish off with straight strokes from inside hole to the outer edge of the disc or vice versa.
Do not rub hard! Gentle persistence always wins out.
Always clean or work the disc over the entire surface, not just the affected area and finish off with straight strokes from inside hole to the outer edge of the disc or vice versa.
Do not rub hard! Gentle persistence always wins out.
Finally the big guns for gouges and heavy scratching. Your chances of success here are limited to your understanding of the fact that you are re-surfacing a piece of polycarbonate. Keep that in mind. However, considering the condition of the disc you have nothing to lose!
Start with superfine, 3000 grade grit abrasive paper. This is available at hardware stores and is the product used for polishing cars after spraying. Use that to evenly score the entire surface of the disc. The direction of rubbing here is unimportant and it is easier to go in circles to maintain a consistent application to all areas. Keep gently rubbing until the entire disc is evenly surfaced and looks totally sanded all over.
