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Thread ID: 28236 2002-12-14 05:15:00 using borrowed pc games Roseyglow (2770) Press F1
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105880 2002-12-14 05:15:00 My computer is new, an ADC with windows xp
My grandson gets games from the library I am worried about putting them in my machine as most of them are scratched. He is having trouble with his computer and this could be the reason.
Am I being over protective of my pc??
Roseyglow (2770)
105881 2002-12-14 05:45:00 Scratched CD's will, at worst refuse to play.

CD's are read with a laser beam shining on them, nothing in your PC actually "touches" the data side of the CD.

Its not like video tape, cassette tapes etc. where the tape actually contacts the heads. The main problem will be, if he needs to "install" the game to play it, some games may not "un-install" cleanly, leaving unwanted remnants on your system
godfather (25)
105882 2002-12-14 07:19:00 what side of the disc needs to be cleaned of dust? And with what. Roseyglow (2770)
105883 2002-12-14 08:00:00 The laser reads through the side opposite the label . Same as an audio CD .

You need to be careful not to scratch the label side, as the "data" is actually just underneath the painted lable . The laser shines on it from the "clear" side, through almost the thickness of the CD .

Just use a soft lint free cloth to wipe the non-label side .

Remember though, nothing in your drive actually touches the surfaces, and the CD spins VERY fast so "dust" on the CD is unlikely to be that much of a problem

As I mentioned before, if the games are "installed" (software transferred to your hard drive) the main problem is the software not fully "uninstalling" (removed from your hard drive) and leaving some program files behind . I would be more concerned about that than any dust or scratches .
godfather (25)
105884 2002-12-14 09:43:00 When you clean your CDs make sure you don't clean round and round the disk in a circle. You need to wipe from the inside (middle) of the CD to the outside in "segments". Susan B (19)
105885 2002-12-15 21:56:00 Hi Susan,

I know this is a fact, but have always been curious why.
Would you please enlighten me, so I can stop wondering.

Thank you,
Antonia
Antonia (730)
105886 2002-12-16 01:23:00 Looks like Susan isn't going to answer...

The "radial" cleaning is advised, as any scratches created by the cleaning process will be across the tracks of the data and not along it.

It minimises the risk of a scratch disrupting the data.

But, as mentioned above, most scratches can be polished out. Brasso is also very good for polishing the scratches out. Me? If they are dirty (usually fingermarks) then I just wipe with a clean cloth. Scratches are only a problem if the CD will not work.
godfather (25)
105887 2002-12-16 02:11:00 Some CDs are dangerous to put in a computer. Like a CDR someone made that auto-runs a BATCH FILE VIRUS and leaves commands to format c:\windows directory on next boot up.

THATS a nasty little CD. See, you wood put the CD in the drive, a black MSDOS box wood open for a split second, next time u restart the computer, ARRRGH....no windows. All without running anything.

I shood know, i've seen it happens lots, my friends find this a highly amuesing joke to play ever since i gave them the idea.
Mark Veldhuizen (2570)
105888 2002-12-16 02:12:00 Seems I just spread my idea..

The only remedy is to disable "autorun" from your computer.

Also, as a rule, i NEVER run .bat's without first right clicking and choosing EDIT, and having a look at what commands are being given.
Mark Veldhuizen (2570)
105889 2002-12-16 02:30:00 Any 'friends' giving me such a CD will not be on my christmas card list for a loooooong time. Nuff said. nzStan (440)
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