Toothpaste

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Hello. Got a problem. Got two games that have stopped working. Now, they're both console games, so I know it's not the machines that aren't working. It's just disc reading errors. It's the scratches that did them in. Now, I've recently heard that toothpaste can fill in minor scratches on CDs, and I want to know if it's hooey or if this has actually worked in the past. This is important because the games are GTA: San Andreas and Halo 2.

So I'm asking: Does anyone know if toothpaste can get me flying banshees and jacking cars again?

 

second time toothpaste has been mentioned for cleaning/repairing disks

dunno if it works

but disk doctor from radio shack might

or go to your local CD vendor and they might be able to direct you to your local disk repair specialist

 

I've heard of this, but I've also heard that you're just as likely to put new scratches in as you are to take the old ones out. Not a good idea.

 

How can you take scratches out? OMFG THEY'RE SCRATCHES!!! Go and buy the game again, the disks are dud...

 

Like the lover said: "Scratches are eternal much like diamonds."

But try to get the CDs work enough for you to copy off their content (with programs like CloneCD), then burn them on a brand new media.

 

Hell yeah toothpaste is just awesome for getting rid of CD scratches but I prefer corn flakes myself. However, you need at least two whole tubes of toothpaste for just one CD and then you need smooth it in with a wire brush. It does take quite a long time but eventually the scratches will disappear.

 

I tried the corn flake idea on my copy of the Hulk on DVD. It worked perfectly! It made the DVD completely unreadable and now I never have to watch that trash again!!!
Thanks Sarevok!

 

I would be very surprised if toothpaste would remove scratches from DVDs and CDs (other than in the scenario outlined by Sarevok).

However, you should notice a decrease in cavities and plaque, along with improvements in whiteness and a fresh minty breath.

 

I've used toothpast a few times on my CDs. It won't take out any deep scratches, but it will buff out the fine ones (if you're patient), and leave you with a gingevitis free CD! Oh, and do not try to use the toothpast to "fill" in the scratches!!! Toothpaste is not clear, and would only make the problem worse...even if you were to use a different reader that has a lot more tolerance...so if you're going to use it, make sure you get it all off the disk!

 

@ Shalladeth

Do I sense some sarcasm in the background? Hopefully you didn't actually expect that to work, did you? Tsk, you really should have seen the joke before acting...

 

@Sarevok, it was worthwhile coming on tonight just to read your post.

 

Ok, on a serious note.
But first this disclaimer: I HAVE NOT USED THIS ON A CD OR DVD!
Ok, occassionally I'll get small scratches on my watch or sunglasses. I have used toothpaste on them and it works. It does not get rid of the scratch, it just buffs it out.
If you've ever scratched your watch or a similar surface, you might have noticed the scratch is white in appearance. The toothpase is able to buff out that white part. The scratch is still there, but its just not white.
My guess would be that toothpaste would do the same on a cd, thus making it easier for your device to read the cd since the white on the scratch could block the laser.
But like I said, I've never tried it on a cd before.
New edit:
In the interest of science, I just finished three tests using toothpaste on cds.
All tests were conducted on old demo dvds for the Playstation 2. The tests were not conducted on the blue cds, just the silvery ones.
Test 1-This was my control. .
-I took a pristine demo disk. There were no scratches on the disk.
-Tested disk on the PS2 to make sure it worked. The disk was in working order.
-Applied regular cavity fighting toothpaste, original flavor directly to the disk. Using a soft tissue, rubbed the toothpaste around the disk. The disk was kept wet at all times.
-Rinsed the disk of all toothpaste.
-Inspected and tested the disk in PS2.
Disk had no visible scratches. Disk worked perfectly, no loading problems or lags or skips.
Test 2
-Took pristine demo disk.
-Made numerous scratches on disk using a thumbtack until the disk no longer played in PS2.
-Applied toothpaste to disk usging method described in control test.
-Tested and inspected disk. Scratches were slightly less visible. Disk played in the PS2 with no visible problems or skips.
Test 3
-Repeated test 2 with a third disk.
-This time the disk would not play in the PS2, recieved disk error message.
-Repeated buffing procedure, disk would still not play in the PS2.
Conclusion:
More tests are needed. Regular toothpaste does not appear to cause any damage to a working disk. The scratches on the third disk may have been deaper than the previious disk.
Recomendations:
Pending further investigations, get a disk repair kit or take it somewhere to get it repaired.

[ February 04, 2005, 11:05: Message edited by: Elios ]

 

@Wirhe - What do you mean? Are you implying that Sarevok wasn't serious when he suggested using cornflakes to remove scratches from a DVD? I thought it was a great idea! I've since started using gravel to wax my car and pizza to clean my windows.

 

@ Shalladeth

Why, of course he was! I'm just saying that maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't have begun to clean your windows with pizza... I have seen them and all that ketchup makes your house look like a home of a serial killer.