How to Recover Unreadable CDs/DVDs: Just Boil Them!

Did it ever happen to you to buy a new CD or DVD only to find out that the optical drive doesn't recognize it? There's a good way of making it readable again and it doesn't involve rocket science. It just requires a good hot bath.

Not for you, for the disk. Boiling disks in water for a short time can recover even the most stubborn of them and can save you from pulling out some hairs from not being able to play the coolest game in the world that you just purchased.

One of the reasons why a brand new disk can become unrecognizable for the drive is the exposure to condensation, a phenomenon that occurs within the plastic wrapped subscription, as water molecules trapped in the air turn liquid when the temperature drops, for example during shipping.

The thin layer of plastic covering all discs, meant to protect the readable surface, can expand and contract in the optical drives, where the temperature is much higher than in the room or on a store shelf. The simplest way to eliminate water from the disk is to boil it.

Now don't go boil them like you were making soup, you just need enough water in a ball to cover the disk, then place the ball WITHOUT THE DISK in the microwave oven for about 60 seconds. If you put the actual disk in the oven, you won't get a readable disk back, you will only get to see a fireworks display and will be stuck with a probably useless appliance.

After you take the ball out of the oven, put the disk inside for 30 to 40 seconds that take it out using a tool, not your fingers, to grab it by the inner orifice and then dry it off with a paper towel gently.

The reason this process works is because the small elastomeric film on the disk is forced to expand, thus fixing all minor twists caused by shipping and removing the particles or debris from the surface in the hot water.

Now that you know a new use for your microwave, get ready for an instant RPG soup...

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http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-To-Recover-Unreadable-CDs-DVDs-Just-Boil-Them-60550.shtml

Oh shoots! that's cool!

What I don't get is the ball thing... I need a visual lol

Your topics are so educational Cool

Thanks, I Think The Person Ment To Say "Bowl", At Least That's The Only Word That Fit The Context Of The Article. Maybe The Writer Is English, Beats Me... scratch

**Moderator** Number of posts : 4437 Age : 34 Registration date : 2007-03-21

Including with that I have heard that you can put it in your freezer for a few minutes. I don't know....

Orion wrote:: Thanks, I Think The Person Ment To Say "Bowl", At Least That's The Only Word That Fit The Context Of The Article. Maybe The Writer Is English, Beats Me...

Ohhhhh... wow and I had all this schupidness floating around in my head tryina imagine how u could use a ball for it lol... I pictured cutting a small basketball or something in half and fillin it with water... then I was wondering if it would melt in the microwave... then I was wondering why a ball? Rolling Eyes

I'm so slow sometimes lol.

lol I just tried to say it in an English accent Razz

. Ur welcome.

Blue Saki Number of posts : 240 Registration date : 2007-06-11

Kool, thanks for the advice, i'll remember this if ever such a problem accurs.

lolz wow dats kool!
thanks for the advice!

**Administrator** Number of posts : 19 Age : 38 Registration date : 2007-03-11

sick....Home Economics and Technology collide .....wickedy grrrrrrr lol

computer_junkie wrote:: sick....Home Economics and Technology collide .....wickedy grrrrrrr lol