Understanding Disc Repair Technology

Scratches and scuffs can cause playability issues on all types of optical media, including CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and game discs.

Unlike a record player which uses a needle, or a tape player which uses a magnetic head, optical media players use a laser. Any physical marring of the plastic layer which protects the data on the disc can interfere with the laser’s ability to read the data.

The good news is that discs can be restored; all we need to do is remove the scratches.

See the factsheet on scratches.

To restore a disc to like-new condition, the protective plastic layer needs to be polished down to the depth of the deepest scratch. Both the Hybrid 2.0 and the VMI 2500 use a micro-abrasive solution in combination with a buffing process to accomplish this. Depending on how badly scratched the disc is, this can usually be accomplished in about 30 seconds to 4 minutes.

Although polishing a disc does remove a little of the disc surface, it’s only a few microns of depth. This means that, if required, a disc can safely be repaired many times over. This is especially important for video rental stores and libraries looking to actively extend the circulation life of their disc media.

See the factsheet on disc restoration.

The composition of discs varies greatly depending on the disc format. Of course, the most important layer is the data layer, which holds digital information and must be intact for the disc to play.

The arrangement of layers affects the likelihood of damage and determines the best repair method.

See the factsheet on disc layers.

The composition of discs varies greatly depending on the disc format. Of course, the most important layer is the data layer, which holds digital information and must be intact for the disc to play.

The arrangement of layers affects the likelihood of damage and determines the best repair method.

See the fact sheet on disc damage.