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FAQs about Disc Damage and Disc Repair

Why do my CDs get scratched?
Although CDs and DVDs are durable and convenient to use, they can be easily damaged through normal handling and use. Scratched CDs/DVDs may sound and look dull and lifeless, or they may skip or freeze while playing. A CD/DVD player has to use error correction procedures to play scratch damaged discs, and therefore the playback quality is affected.

How do you repair CDs, DVDs, and game discs such as PS2 and Xbox?
Compact discs are made of polycarbonate plastics and are manufactured through a moulding process that makes a disc perfectly flat. This perfectly level surface allows a CD player's laser reader to reflect off the foil layer of the disc, retrieving the digital content that is stored on the disc. Scratches, fingerprints, dirt & dust on the surface of a CD will block or disrupt the path of the laser reader, which may cause the CD to skip or freeze. All Disc-Go-Tech disc repair machines use a single type of pads and polish system to gently re-surface scratched discs, so that they can be played again, without playback errors.

How do I identify CDs or DVDs that need to be repaired?
Generally, any CD or DVD that skips or freezes when being played, probably has playing surface scratches, and therefore requires scratch repair to be fully functional again. This process is especially important for video stores to ensure customers have a `skip free' movie experience when they rent a DVD. Also, scratch-free CDs, DVDs, and video game discs have a much higher re-sale value when its time to sell discs as ex-rentals.

Are there other types of disc damage that can't be repaired?
There are some types of generic disc damage that cannot be repaired, as follows:
Cracks - typically, discs (especially DVDs) may start to develop cracks or splits that start from the inside ring, and then progressively work their way towards the outer edges of the disc. Disc cracks or splits cannot be repaired. Discstation has a product available which has been designed to significantly reduce the chance of a disc developing cracks when applied. Please see here, http://www.discstation.com.au/category.pasp?emGUID=29BE9674425E4F01B656B49CED8D8652!2732!3080&categoryid=28 , for further information about DiscArmor Crackguard.
Dents - dents in either side of a disc, usually caused by blunt force to the disc, are not repairable.
Warping - discs are susceptible to heat damage, and will warp when left in direct sunlight, or extreme heat. Warp damage to a disc is not repairable.

Are there other problems that can occur to CDs and DVDs that will prevent them from playing?
Foil damage - is a specific problem to CDs, or compact discs. Foil damage occurs when the label (picture) side of a CD has been scratched, usually caused by mis-handling. To find out whether a disc has foil damage, try this simple test. Hold a disc up to a strong light bulb, label-side facing the bulb. If you can see tiny pin holes, or lines of light coming through the shiny side of the disc, this disc can not be repaired. It has been damaged through all three top layers. This information applies to CDs only. DVDs are manufactured differently and do not suffer (usually) foil damage. CDs with foil damage cannot be repaired.
Layer separation - is a specific problem to DVDs. A DVD consists of two polycarbonate layers, with the DVDs foil layer (digital info. layer) sandwiched in-between these two plastic layers. This means a DVD is very resistant to foil damage, but sometimes, due to poor manufacturing, the two plastic layers of the DVD may become separated, and thus exposing the DVDs foil layer to moisture and dirt. This type of problem is commonly referred to as DVD rot.
Extreme heat, or excessive bending can also cause DVD layer separation. DVD layer separation cannot be repaired.

Disc-Go-Checker - New equipment release

High-performance DVD, CD, and game disc verification equipment to quickly and easily identify discs that require scratch repair or cleaning. Disc-Go-Check and Disc-Go-Check MAX disc checking machines use Clear Scanning Technology to compare scratch patterns with media player capabilities in order to determine whether a disc is playable using a simple pass or fail rating system.

Recent coverage in the media - Disc-Go-Pod Plus

January 2006
Disc-Go-Pod Plus Review (General)
By: César A. Berardini - "Cesar"
January 26th, 2006
http://hardware.teamxbox.com/reviews/general/44/DiscGoPod-Plus/p1/

`I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to see. I never expected to get the following results.
Of all the discs I threw into the Disc-Go-Pod Plus, all light damage scratches completely disappeared. I was stunned by looking at the disc after the repairing process, which only lasts five minutes for this type of scratch damage. I couldn’t believe it, so I took one of the CD-R’s used for the test and decided to inflict more scratches. I took scissors, a screwdriver and went heavy on it.'

December 2005

2005 Holiday Buying Guide - Game Informer Magazine
http://www.discgotech.com/news/news/2005/GameInformerMag%20Dec05.pdf

Disc Doctor - Mean Street Magazine
http://www.discgotech.com/news/news/2005/Mean%20Street%20Nov05.pdf
www.meanstreet.com

November 2005

Clean up your Act - Play Magazine
http://www.discgotech.com/news/news/2005/Play%20Dec05.pdf

2005

Disc-Go-Pod PLUS featured in Popular Science, What's New - The Goods
Popular Science
http://www.discgotech.com/news/news/2005/popularscience.pdf


Disc-Go-Tech Has Cure for Scratched CDs/DVDs? - Library Journal
http://www.discgotech.com/news/news/2005/libraryjournal7-18-2005.pdf

Recent coverage in the media - d_skin

February 2006
d_skins featured in the Hot 10 items list in Electronic Gaming Monthly
http://www.dskin.com/ElectronicGamingMonthly-Feb2006.pdf

Reviewed at the Family Review Centre
http://www.familyreview.org/reviews/general/33.html
SUMMARY: d_skin®. A revolutionary alternative to scratched cd's. The d_skin® is a thin, pliable covering, you slip over the surface of a cd. While on, the cd can be played, recorded on, and stored, without ever having to remove it. While it is on the cd, it protects the surface of the cd, to avoid scratches and other abrasions, that will quickly deem a cd useless. Then, when the d_skin gets scratched up, simply replace it. This is definitely a lot cheaper than replacing the disc. We found these to be simple to use, with no instruction necessary. Our cd's worked as per the norm, with no changes in performance. Our system did not even notice they were on. We tried recording/burning a cd, with the d_skin® in place. We had to be sure the claims were correct ~AND~ they were! Performance and time for the process showed no changes. We highly suggest this product, for the protection of your investment.

January 2006
Nitty Gritty Blue/Light Special - Skinnie Magazine
http://www.dskin.com/SkinnieMagazine.Jan2006.pdf

`the ideal prophylactic for you audio and gaming needs'

December 2005
Great Home Computer Accessories - Good Housekeeping
http://www.wjactv.com/money/5663672/detail.html

`One of the best ways to protect your CDs, DVDs and game discs from getting scratched is with transparent "d_skin Protective Disc Skins."
These are clear protective coatings that snap onto your discs and you can play them through this coating. You dont have to worry about taking them off and putting them back on. The d_skin Disc Protectors are great for people who tend to leave their CDs and DVDs loose on a desk, says Genovese.'

Skinning Your Discs - The Boston Globe
http://www.dskin.com/BostonGlobe122905.pdf

D-Skin Protective Disc Covers - Game Revolution
http://www.dskin.com/game_revolution121305.pdf

dskin - Avault.com
http://www.avault.com/hardware/getreview.asp?review=dskin
'In order to check the level of protection the d_skin can offer your data, I nervously placed one over my Final Fantasy X disc, and slid it back and forth across the coffee table for around ten minutes. (While some may find this test pointless, those with kids or younger siblings know that youngsters can easily find about a thousand different ways to annihilate your most coveted games.) Nervously, I picked up the disc and gazed at the scuffed surface of the d_skin. Well I can’t tell you that the skin would allow perfect play after that incident, but when I removed it I saw that it had indeed done its job. My game was safe!''

November 2005
d_skin Protective Skins
Prophylactics for your digital property.
by Gerry Block
http://gear.ign.com/articles/672/672786p1.html
`With the limits of a d_skin's protection thus established, I can honestly recommend them to anyone concerned with prolonging the life of their digital media. Simple, effective, and pretty cheap, d_skins do their job well. Remember: Don't be a fool, wrap your tool.'

June 2005
"Protective Disc Skins: Transparent sleeves prevent damage to CDs and DVDs"
- Digital Media Designer
http://www.digitalmediadesigner.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=32979&afterinter=true
'When CDs first came out, the disc makers bragged that they were indestructible. That may have been true compared to vinyl LPs, but as we all know, one good scratch can render a $50 video game unplayable.'

April 2005
"D_Skin Disk Protectors" - The Daily Gadget (blog)
http://www.dailygadget.com/archive/2005_04_01_dailygadget_archive.html
'If you are somewhat casual with your CDs, DVDs, or game disks, or you are the parent of someone who tends to toss their media disks around as if they were easily replicable, you might appreciate d_skins.'

"Everyday Electronics" - Access
http://www.accessmag.com/CurrentIssue/Accessories.html
`CDs and DVDs will become redundant someday, replaced by wireless storage media, but until then they are going to get scratched and they are going to become unplayable at some point if you don't protect them.'

2004
"Hardware Review: D_Skin Disc Protection" - Console Gameworld
http://www.consolegameworld.com/article.php/id/406/
`D-Skin, high-tech prophylactics for precious discs of all types.
How many times have you had to hold the cue forward key to play your favorite CD skips on that one small scratch? How many times have you ruined a Playstation or PC game CD, or your DVD? How many times have you had to buy another one because they became cloudy or nicked and wouldn’t read right?'

"Protect your precious discs with a condom from D_Skin" - cdfreaks.com
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/10230

"New Skins for Old Disks" - uexpress
http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/uExpress/2004/08/29/563918