Scratches on discs can feel like the end of a video game or movie. With the wear and tear of time, physical means of owning media feel as if they are going to disappear with time as technology breaks down. However, having a few (or even thousands) of scratches does not mean that a disc is completely gone.
My experience working at a used video games store has taught me that physical media can stand the test of time. I have seen discs with what looked like millions of scratches begin to work as if they’re brand new after repair, which is great news if you’re trying to preserve your media in the long term.
Discs with Scratches Can Sometimes Still Work Without Issues
At first glance, many people assume that a single scratch means the death of a disc, which can sometimes be the case depending on how deep it is. But if only the surface is damaged, it does not affect the ability for the media to be read. I have seen some discs with what looked like over one hundred gashes work like it is a new copy that was just unsealed.
The durability of a disc can depend on how old it is and what exactly it is used in. For example, the coating on Blu-ray discs is much stronger than that on DVDs as they differ in materials, which makes them much more resilient. This does not mean that Blu-rays cannot be scratched, as I have seen a fair share of messy Blu-rays that have a scary amount of dents on their backs.
Make Sure that the Disc Is the Problem
Before you go about fixing a scratched disc, I do recommend testing your disc reader first. Although usually issues with reading come from the discs themselves, sometimes it could be yourdevice that is causing the issue. Even non-scratched discs can be affected by a bad reader, with them occasionally being the cause of disc scrapes. Lasers don’t last forever, either.
If you suspect a disc of yours may not be working, you should always check another disc to ensure that the reader is working as intended. This can also help ease any concerns that your reading machine, whether it be a DVD player or a game console, may be broken.
Wipe the Disc Down with Cleaning Alcohol
A great first step to working with broken discs is to give them a good clean. I always do this with any discs I suspect will not be properly read, even if they have hundreds of scratches, as surface-level scratching can usually still be read by decent machines. Although it may seem ridiculous, dust is usually the enemy of technology working properly.
When I clean my discs, I usually spray regular lens cleaner onto a microfiber cloth before applying it to the disc. I always ensure to wipe off both sides of my disc just in case the top of the disc could be the cause of issues. This is the only thing you should be doing to the top of the disc, as they are usually more resistant to scratches from the cover art on their tops. This is also where the disc data is held, so if the layer is further damaged, the disc can be ruined.
Isopropyl alcohol can also be an alternative to lens cleaner. However, you should not use anything outside a microfiber cloth for wiping down the surfaces of discs. They are designed to be gentle on technology compared to regular rags and are much more absorbent and can cause scratches. Never use a paper towel as I have personally seen one scratch the back of discs when wiped against one. Paper is rougher in texture, which may further damage the disc. Paper debris can also be caught inside the scratches and become stuck.
Use DIY Adhesives for Small Scratches
If checking your hardware and cleaning your discs does not work, this is when you will have to choose between trying to seal the cracks yourself or utilizing machinery to fix your disc. For those who would like to take a shot at fixing your discs without using expensive machinery, there are some at-home options for personal adhesive.
you’re able to apply wax, solutions from a commercial repair kit, baking soda paste, or even toothpaste onto your discs to attempt to seal scratches. I myself have found that the toothpaste method is hit-or-miss. I’ve used it extensively myself and found that it works about 45% of the time. Regardless of adhesive, this method is not easy to do, as excess liquid material can potentially be left on the disc if not applied or cleaned carefully.
The adhesive can potentially loosen over time, depending on the material you use. If it escapes a scratch while inside a reader, it can also potentially damage your machine. This method is very risky, as a small mistake can further damage your disc or worse, ruin your machine. Proceed with caution, and if you’re not confident then you should probably skip straight to the next step.
Resurfacing Machines are the Best Option, and Far Safer
The route that I recommend the most is utilizing a disc repair machine. This method is more costly, but it has a higher chance of repairing your discs without the concern of an adhesive getting loose. You can either buy a repair machine yourself or go to a store that has disc resurfacing services to save the hassle of spending thousands on the hardware.
If you do plan on purchasing a machine, I recommend using anELM ECO-Pro 2for a reliable first machine. It is far from being cheap as it is short of costing $2K, but from my experience, it does a great job at fixing discs, even ones that look like they have thousands of indentations from scratches.
The ELM machine minimally shaves off the surface layer of scratched discs to shave out gashes on the device. It is easy to use; however, you will need to keep an eye on the water and compound levels in your machine, as well as what pads are used for which discs. If you are trying to clean a Blu-ray disc, for example, do not use a polish pad. Instead, use a mirror pad which will be more gentle for the more expensive discs.
This isn’t going to be the best solution for everyone, considering the eye-watering price of such a machine. If you have an extensive collection of physical media that you want to keep in tip-top condition, it could be worth it. Otherwise, you’re probably better off searching the internet for nearby locations that offer disc resurfacing or a machine that you may rent or use yourself.
At the end of the day, disc scratches are not easy to fix. This is why I recommend trying to utilize a store’s disc resurfacing services, as they will know what is best for your media. Of course, just like these methods, it is not guaranteed that your discs will work again after repairing the scratches, but it’s always worth a shot. The best remedy is to avoid discs getting scratched in the first place by storing them in their original cases.
Got a problem getting your old video game cartridges to read? It turns out thatblowing on them isn’t going to help.
