HOW TO REPAIR SCRATCHED CDs

   First thing you've gotta do is try to identify the location of the
scratch that's causing the problem. Sometimes it's obvious. If there are
so many scratches that you're not sure which one(s) is causing the skip,
you'll have to note which track(s) is skipping. Then examine the
playing side of the disc under a bright light until you can see the
individual bands of the tracks. Remember that the first track is
closest to the center since CDs track from the inside out. Try to
pick out the area on the track that has the worst-looking scratches
and mark the outer edge of the disc with a marker so you can
concentrate your efforts on the right spot. Otherwise you'll have to
put a lot of effort into polishing the entire disc, which is not
usually necessary since most scratches are harmless. (Sometimes it's
not the scratches that are causing the problem but debris that has
collected inside them, so try just washing the disc before you try
repairing it.)

   Toothpaste works pretty good. I use Colgate regular. I think a gel
might not be abrasive enough to do any good, but try it if that's what
you've got. Use your finger to rub it in with a tight circular motion. I
tried using a Q-tip but it made more scratches than it fixed. I add a
little water to the paste, and as it begins to dry out and get gritty I
add a few more drops. Just keep rubbing until it feels like there's
hardly any grit left. Rinse and dry the disc then try to play the CD. If
it still skips, repeat the procedure. Often it takes more than one try
but if you're doing it right you'll notice an improvement each time.
You'll never be able to completely remove all the scratches, so don't
expect it to look brand new. I've fixed dozens of CDs this way, even one
that somebody apparently used as a Frisbee (r). Only found one I
couldn't fix.

   All of this is for repairing scratches on the playing side of the
disk. If the label side is causing the problem you are SOL. Ditto for
manufacturing defects, but these are rare.


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