Started listening to PJ Harvey- Rid of Me and the disc has stopped producing sound! Is there any way to renovate the disc to its former glory? Or just make it playable again ? The playing surface isn't visibly damaged, so I guess the data/music is still there.
I'd rather save it than bin it.

As you have already purchased the CD, download the torrent? Stick the CD on the shelf for sentimental reasons?

Already thought of, but it's not the same is it? Yes, I am a bit old fashioned.

JML my friend JML

Saw it on a telly in Woolworths.

Have you tried rubbing it on your trousers?

JML? OK, you've got me???

Rubbed and nothing. 😥

The CD player reads the data in a spiral like the groove on a record (only it starts in the centre and works out)

Polishing the playing surface RADIALLY out from the centre to the edge is your best bet. Polishing in a circular motion only smears the muck/scratches it in a circular pattern which interferes with a continuous chunk of the data (as it's so small) resulting in poor sound.

Let us know if it works

I've sometimes found that CDs that don't play well on a CD player can still be ripped OK on your computer, perhaps see if you can rip it and burn a new copy.

High risk solution, but you need to trust me on this.

Use fine Wet & Dry sandpaper on the CD until you have smoothed the surface such that the scratches are not visible. Of course it is now scratched to hell. Now, use T-Cut and a soft lint free cloth to polish it back to a glassy surface.

Done it with a number of CDs and DVDS which the kids must have used and skegs

Or take it to a shop that does all that for you but no risk. Grainger Games chain dies them if your in the north.

Cheers skidartist, i'm trying that now.
CharlieMungus, I hope you won't be offended if I don't.
Drac, north of where??? I'm in Madrid!! 😆

North of Madrid. About 55 degrees north.

don simon – Member

CharlieMungus, I hope you won't be offended if I don't.

Go on, give it a go. I want to know if it works

My forst question is: Have you tried the disc in any other players?

Spin Doctor. Works on dvds scratched by the kids too.

Don't ask me how it works… but I chuck all my scratched cds into the freezer. leave them in there for a while (i tend to do a day) take em out and dry them off, and mine seem to play fine.

Good luck

J

I'm seem to remember reading somewhere about polishing with toothpaste and just found this:

http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Scratched-CD

which seems to confirm it….

My forst question is: Have you tried the disc in any other players?

Yes.

I might give the freezer trick a try on another disc first.

Toothpaste could be worth a go, again on another disc first.

Thanks. 😀