Can a DVD Player cause Scratches to DVDs

Kargo · 14-03-2008, 15:57

just out of curiosity, can DVD Players actually scratch disks when playing them.. I just noticed one of my DVD disks that I bought not long ago has a small scratch near the edge.. I played it back on my DVD Player and it seems it skips at one particular moment. after I tried playing it on my PC and the bit that skipped on the DVD Player plays perfectly fine.

JBlink · 14-03-2008, 17:35

I suspect the damage may be due to handling the disc when loading into the DVD tray or removing from its box. At what point does it skip? Remember that a DVD like a CD plays from the inside to the outside so the damage is probably well into the movie (or whatever). It is hard to be sure of course due to the location of any additional features

chrisjr · 14-03-2008, 21:22

They can but the most likely scratch would be circular or partially circular in form parallel to the edge of the disk. Caused by the disk touching something inside the mechanism as it spins.

A scratch along the radius of the disk is most likely caused by putting it into or taking it out of the tray.

Is your PC drive a DVD burner by any chance? I have often found burners (CD and DVD) to be more tolerant of disks that other machines choke on.

Kargo · 15-03-2008, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

They can but the most likely scratch would be circular or partially circular in form parallel to the edge of the disk. Caused by the disk touching something inside the mechanism as it spins.

A scratch along the radius of the disk is most likely caused by putting it into or taking it out of the tray.

Is your PC drive a DVD burner by any chance? I have often found burners (CD and DVD) to be more tolerant of disks that other machines choke on.

Hey there, yes the drive is a DVD Burner drive.. Can scratches expand and damage a whole DVD or will it always be the same location on the dvd

chrisjr · 15-03-2008, 12:08

If it is just a minor surface blemish then it probably won't get any bigger. It would really have to penetrate the full thickness of the plastic layer to stand any chance of growing as that would weaken it to some degree.

There are products on the market that claim to be able to polish out minor scratches. Not used any myself so can't recommend any. If it is not too deep then you might get some benefit out of them, but as I say I have never used them so, as they say, use at your own risk

You might find that a gentle rub down with a soft cloth (always in a circular motion round the disk) might polish out the scratch a little, perhaps enough to make it playable again. Don't use anything too abrasive though as that could make things very much worse, so no getting out a sheet of wet and dry and pretending you're rubbing down a bit of carpentry

14-03-2008, 15:57	#1
Kargo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 6,238	Can a DVD Player cause Scratches to DVDs just out of curiosity, can DVD Players actually scratch disks when playing them.. I just noticed one of my DVD disks that I bought not long ago has a small scratch near the edge.. I played it back on my DVD Player and it seems it skips at one particular moment. after I tried playing it on my PC and the bit that skipped on the DVD Player plays perfectly fine.

14-03-2008, 17:35	#2
JBlink Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 2,926	I suspect the damage may be due to handling the disc when loading into the DVD tray or removing from its box. At what point does it skip? Remember that a DVD like a CD plays from the inside to the outside so the damage is probably well into the movie (or whatever). It is hard to be sure of course due to the location of any additional features

14-03-2008, 21:22	#3
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	They can but the most likely scratch would be circular or partially circular in form parallel to the edge of the disk. Caused by the disk touching something inside the mechanism as it spins. A scratch along the radius of the disk is most likely caused by putting it into or taking it out of the tray. Is your PC drive a DVD burner by any chance? I have often found burners (CD and DVD) to be more tolerant of disks that other machines choke on.

15-03-2008, 00:41	#4
Kargo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 6,238	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr They can but the most likely scratch would be circular or partially circular in form parallel to the edge of the disk. Caused by the disk touching something inside the mechanism as it spins. A scratch along the radius of the disk is most likely caused by putting it into or taking it out of the tray. Is your PC drive a DVD burner by any chance? I have often found burners (CD and DVD) to be more tolerant of disks that other machines choke on. Hey there, yes the drive is a DVD Burner drive.. Can scratches expand and damage a whole DVD or will it always be the same location on the dvd

15-03-2008, 12:08	#5
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	If it is just a minor surface blemish then it probably won't get any bigger. It would really have to penetrate the full thickness of the plastic layer to stand any chance of growing as that would weaken it to some degree. There are products on the market that claim to be able to polish out minor scratches. Not used any myself so can't recommend any. If it is not too deep then you might get some benefit out of them, but as I say I have never used them so, as they say, use at your own risk You might find that a gentle rub down with a soft cloth (always in a circular motion round the disk) might polish out the scratch a little, perhaps enough to make it playable again. Don't use anything too abrasive though as that could make things very much worse, so no getting out a sheet of wet and dry and pretending you're rubbing down a bit of carpentry

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Can a DVD Player cause Scratches to DVDs