[8dalejr.fan]

Cleaning a compact disk... What is the proper way of doing so? What kind of cloth should I use and which way do I rub? Are you supposed to rub in circles or do you go from the inside ring to the outer edge?

And what does "against the tracks" mean?

Sorry I'm an idiot.

[Augie65]

Do not rub in a circle, that might scratch the track, go from the center to the other edge. Rubbing in a circle by cause long scratches over a single section of the data track, which will cause signal loss. Small scratches across many tracks can easily be handled by error-correcting of the reader. Just use a soft cloth, you can use warm water if needed. The CD is plastic so you don't want to use anything harsh on it.

[8dalejr.fan]

Thanks!

[ozrom1e]

When cleaning a CD-R or DVD +/-R the worst thing you can use is a paer towel. If they were made entirely of paper it would be ok but they have cellulose mixed in with the paper. I use a soft cotton cloth like an old handkerchief and alcohol, Not Johnny Walker Red <g> just plain alcohol you can get at the dollar store at 2/1.00. The tracks are in a circle on the disk so it does not matter which way you go as long as you rub or clean in the same direction as the disk is round and not sideways. Have a second cotton cloth ready to dry the alcohol off after cleaning.

If there are deep scratches on the disk you might have to use an abrasive polish like Brasso but that is more difficult to do and you should find someone who knows how to use it properly

[8dalejr.fan]

Thanks!