How to fix a scratched CD?

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You can go out and buy a CD cleaning machine, they come in different styles and prices depending on if you want a hand crank or a motorized one, but there are many other ways to do this but many of them are a one time use, as in they work long enough to copy or make a backup of the CD. Whenever a CD is starting to skip from scratches you should stop using it and make a copy before more damage occurs.

First things first clean the CD by running warm water on it to clean any dirt or crude in the scratches and then letting it air dry and then try it.

Fastest and easiest. These are done by rubbing them on the CD to fill the cracks and then wiping the extra off: clear enamel finger nail polish, clear chap stick, wax, Vaseline, liquid car wax, neutral shoe polish, or furniture wax . Use a soft cloth like the ones for cleaning eye glasses to rub and work the stuff into the scratches then wipe it clean. Don't wash unless the test failed and you're trying a new method. I would recommend the easiest to clean first.

This is the best, trickiest and time consuming way. You can use these to polish the CD using a soft cloth like the ones for cleaning eye glasses, Brasso Metal Polish and any toothpaste with baking soda. Apply a small amount then gently rub the cloth on the scratch or scuff in a radial motion, (start at the center and rub out to the edge, like spokes on a wheel). Do this 10 or 12 times all around the CD. Rubbing in a small circular motion can cause small scratches that throw off the laser tracking system in the player. Try to focus your efforts solely on the scratch or scratches you’ve identified (if possible). Polish in this manner for a couple of minutes, reapplying as needed to the cloth as necessary. Be careful not to apply to much pressure, although you will still be able to feel the cloth gently rubbing the CD as it polishes. If you used toothpaste, rinse the disc thoroughly with warm water and let dry. Make sure to remove all of the toothpaste and let the disc dry completely before trying to play it. With Brasso, wipe off excess product and let the rest dry. Then, using a clean cloth, gently wipe disc again.

My favorite way is just to torrent the CD but if I can't find it I just use 4,000 grit wet sandpaper....Show more

Cd Polisher...Show more

If all else fails, you could also take the disks to Blockbuster or similar type stores, who have a restoration service.

It all depends just how badly scratched those disks are!!...Show more

Toothpaste.

I'm serious, I read an article about this working.

I haven't tried it though. Give it a shot....Show more

Sand them down with fine grain sand paper, than use a buffer, CD cleaning solution, and than dry. Good as new!...Show more