Malfunctioning CDs

Subject: Malfunctioning CDs
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 11:26 AM

Can anyone explain why a CD which had been carefully handled, should suddenly start skipping tracks and playing at a fast speed? Can anything be done to restore it? Thank you. Sheila

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: MudGuard
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 12:02 PM

Does it happen on just one CD player or on more than one? If only on one, it could be that the lens of that CD player is dirty.

If on more than one - check whether the CD itself is dirty.

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 12:15 PM

It's only happened a few times, but I've had the occasional CD that will play in the computer but not on the expensive Sony in the living room, and vice versa.

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: paddymac
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 12:21 PM

MudGuard has it right. The problem could be anywhere in the sysyem, not necessarily the CD. I periodically blast my player system (a cheap one) with canned air, just to get rid of (or at least move around) dust particles that can cause skipping and the like.

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 01:30 PM

Sometimes CD's burned on a CD-RW or CD-R drive will not play on other types of drives. Maybe the CD has been copied and was created this way?

I also have a CD that was created from a recording session (a rough mix off a master tape), and it has problems starting up on some tracks.

Just throwing out ideas, in case one of them helps. . .

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 01:53 PM

I had one once that when in the drive would make a weird noise (and not play), then I noticed that the PAINT or whatever it was was being scraped off the "label" so it never went into the drive again - drive is fine with other CDs... Did I damage my drive, though? And what could possibly have been doing that? The only thing I could think of was the drive was spinning and the disk wasn't, as if it were a micron too big for its space or something... any ideas?

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 04:17 PM

How do you clean CDs and CD players? What is canned air? I hope these are not too naive questions. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 04:29 PM

I've found that wiping a troublesome CD with a slightly damp cloth usually does the trick but there are special cleaning fluids availible. For the player, you can buy a special lens cleaning CD.

Jon

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: MudGuard
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 04:38 PM

And when wiping the CD, do it in straight lines from center to edge but never do it in circles around the center!

I usually use methylated spirit for cleaning CDs - it helps removing grease (e.g. fingerprints).

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From:
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 04:42 PM

Canned air, is used by camera buffs and electronics technicians to blow away dust or particulates which might be on gears or lenses or on sensitive electronics.

You can find this product in the camera or electronics shops in your local area.

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:54 PM

Oh! and oh! and oh! again. Thanks all. It happened only on one CD but I'm now alerted to cleaning procedures. Thanks all. Why might it have happened?

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 09:15 PM

I recently had a similar problem, I used a CD lens cleaner , Its a CD with little brushes on it. It was about 5 pound but well worth it. If you are in UK try Argos.

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:24 AM

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:29 AM

G'day aagin,

That posting fell over...

Encore ... Sheila, the lens cleaning CDs Les in Hull mentions work well. His is costly at UK£5. I use one from a discount store that cost Australian $2 - about a sixtnhof the price, but it still gets CDs that skip and stall working again in short order.

There can be more basic problems: Some CD-R and CD-RW formats don't work in audio players, especially older ones ... and there can be alignment faults in the laser set-up ... but start with a good gentle cleaning CD and system.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Proudson
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:50 AM

My guess it is a hardware problem..The computer CD have a lot of more uses than a reuglar CD player..Do you play a lot of games..use the CD drive as your main music source? Could be..you need a new CD player..only $30

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Proudson
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:51 AM

Then again..could be a software problem also..

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Ralphie
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 07:00 AM

Just a thought....the little pits that store the binary info on the CD are actally just under the surface of the label side (Does that make sense?) So any damage to that side can in fact be worse than on the other. That is why some early CD's fail after time, when the ink or paint on the label, actually burns through the plastic!! Als...never write on a CD-R with a biro...use proper non-acidic pens....and, don't use them for frisbees either. hope this helps.Ralphie

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 08:04 AM

Frisbees... this has probably been dicussed before but has anyone found any use for unwanted CDs? I had quite a few at one time - mostly ones that came with PC magazines and AOL ones but never found a use.

Jon

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: grumpy al
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 02:26 PM

if all else fails a big hammer a nd a visit to your local Hi Fi empoium should do the trick.

grumpy

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 02:37 PM

Jon, some one at work told me a wonderful use for those...if you (or anyone you know) likes to garden lay them around the plants with the reflective side up....that way when the sunlight hits the cd...it'll reflect back into the plants......

also i guess, there have been folks who made chain mail out of them....

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:18 AM

When would one be writing on a CD? Ralphie, are you listening? What's a biro? Sheila

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 06:49 AM

Sheila, one could well write on a CD they had recorded to give some idea as to its contents.

A Biro is a ball point pen. click here for more details.

Amergin, must pass the gardening idea on to my mum.

Jon

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:43 PM

Fascinating, Jon. Thanks. And browsing, learned what to do abt. stains! A fringe benefit! Sheila

Subject: RE: Malfunctioning CDs
From: Ralphie
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 02:46 PM

Sheila....Just followed the "Biro" thread myself...Mmm Theres one about "spoons" out there as well... I'm staying indoors for the rest of the day!! R xx