The concept of the compact disk has definitely stood the test of time and with new technologies such as Blu-Ray still choosing to incorporate similar optical technology, it looks like CDs are here to stay….well, at least for a while anyway.

The versatility of the CD/DVD made home recording a breeze for even the most incompetent computer user, but one major downfall of a media with such a lengthy history, is the ease in which the disks can be scratched and damaged rendering the data unreadable.

With its long standing history as the first and foremost media format, many of us have hundreds even thousands of CD’s and DVD’s all storing our own precious documents, music, videos and photos. And as so many of you know, one tiny scratch can result in the loss of a lot of data.

So is there anything you can do to help remove troublesome scratches from your old disks? Luckily an informative article we found on the net suggests two great ways to help revive your damaged CDs/DVDs.

How to Remove Scratches from CDs and DVDs:

First of all, if you haven’t already, you should try cleaning the surface of the CD thoroughly. Even lightly scratched disks may be able to play if they are cleaned properly.

To do this, use a piece of Microfiber cloth and clean you disk using eye-glass cleaner.
Be sure to wipe the CD from the inside out and take care not to touch the reflective surface while doing so.

Note: Do not clean the disk using circular motions. Doing so may worsen the condition of the CD if you accidentally scratch it. It is always better to have a scratch bisecting one location on several tracks rather than affecting the entire length of a single track.

If this method does not solve the problem, you may need to try a slightly more drastic approach.

All that you will need is a soft cotton swab and bit of mild abrasive such as Brasso (Apparently white tooth paste and car rubbing compound may also be effective).

Note: Brasso emits harmful fumes so be sure to perform the task in a well ventilated area.

First collect a small amount of Brasso with your cotton swab.

Gently apply the abrasive to the damaged area of your CD or DVD using small circular motions until the scratch disappears or at least subdues.

Finally rinse the media.

Hopefully your disk should now work, if not, then you may repeat the process and hope for the best!
Don’t forget that these methods can be applied to any type of CD including PS2, PS3 and Xbox games.

House Hold Hacker

Below is a house hold hack for removing CD scratches: