what is the BEST method of trying to recover data from scratched DVDs some one told me Alcohol 120 does any one have the understanding on data extraction?
For data recovery i would recommend isobuster but if they are badly scratched as mairsel said you could resurface them, but this can be costly to have done professionally few steps to start with, clean the disc thoroughly using a damp lint free cloth, and wipe off and dry, any deep scratches you could try the toothpaste method, this has worked a couple of times for me, although can be messy, although it can sometimes cause more problems than its worth Is the data your trying to recover on a pressed or burned disc?
ok this will sound crazy but I have done this and it works, im not kidding if you are very careful you can use a gas blow torch on the surface, the heat causes the plastic to melt slightly and expand which closes the scratches allowing the disk to be read correctly try it out on a few test disks first dont heat the disk too much or it will warp/bubble/burn
Yeah, I would try the toothpaste method first (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/855395/remove_cd_dvd_scratches_with_toothpaste/), since it takes a REALLY steady hand to play with a CD and blowtorch...
toothpaste is a slight abrasive and could be used to polish out scratches but the video is fake which is a real shame
How is the video fake? It might not be the best example, but it gets the method across. Another thought would be one of those glass/crack filling kits for windshields and such.
the disk looked extremely scratched before the toothpaste and too clean after and he didnt do a lot of polishing
If you live in the US you could try finding a Hollywood Video with a Game Crazy store built into it. They have a disc-buffing machine that works wonders ( i used to be the store manager of a HV, ive seen that machine bring even the most mangled and abused discs back to life.)
