I hate DVD's I really do. You try and look after them, but they accumulate scratches and before you know it, you go to do a clean install and all you get is...

DVD DRIVE: * wrrrRRRRRrrrrr... click click... wwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRrrrr... click click ... *

I get the directory when I try to explore the DVD, but if I double click on Setup manually or try to go into one of the directories, XP seems to just freeze up.

I got Sonar 7 directly from Cakewalk through the store, I'm wondering who I should contact? Are they likely to charge me for just a new DVD + p&p, or am I looking at having to get a brand new copy?

Anyone had this happen before?

There are lots of commercial compounds available that can remove scratches etc. from the disc surface. However, from experience, I've found that 'Brasso', the brass/silver polish works better than any commercial substance.

I'm not joking - do an internet search on 'Cleaning CDs Brasso' and you'll find some comparisons.

Brasso is cheap, so it might be worth a shot if your disc is wrecked anyway... Also, make sure it's not your drive - do other DVDs work okay?

(Disclaimer - this is just for your info - if you try this out and things get worse, don't blame me ;) )

Good call, I actually have Brasso here (odd, as I have no silverware...). I'll try that out.

I take it that, unlike regular CD cleaning, you go 'against the grain'? I'll fo a bit of Googling and see if this can be done.

Thanks for the input!

I tried the toothpaste trick about a week ago on a brand new DVD (actually, disk #4 of the Kontakt 3 library), and it worked!

I always make backups of all my software CDs for this very reason, then I just do installs/reinstalls using the copies, and keep the orginals in a safe place. A bit paranoid, I guess. I've also started a project of creating ISO images of all my "important" disks and storing those images on a large mobile SATA disk. CDs and DVDs have a material life which is apparently less than "forever"... Hard disks and tape are supposed to last several times longer than CDs/DVDs. Of course, you need to keep tapes and hard disks in a controlled environment, and probably want to spin up the disk mechanism every 6-12 months so it doesn't bind up.

Cakewalk can send you new replacement discs for a small fee, shipping and handling.
They did for me , and Sonar6PE, anyhow.

Call them

Great... the Brasso appears to be just the tin on it's own under the sink with a dirty cloth in it... off to Tesco's...

keith: Yeah, making an ISO is a good idea and I can back it up on the external drive. Thing is, I actually tried to make an ISO but it seems the CD is too damaged to read and the ISO maker just timed out. If I manage to get it cleaned of scratches and working again the first thing I'll do is image the DVD before attempting a new install from it. Thanks for the advice!

stratcat33511: Might be a bit pricey calling from the UK, were you put through to "Sales" or "Tech Support" to chat about sending out a new one?

Ya - for the Brasso technique, put a small amount (a few drops or just barely dip into the liquid in the tin) on a lint free (and soft) cloth or I've found cotton balls to work well also. With that small amount, apply a moderate amount of force as you said 'against the grain' - so making lots of radial scrubs from the outside to the inside or vice versa. Once you've covered the whole disc (or the problem areas) take another clean cloth/ball and repeat the process with what's spread out on the disc face (this will also remove some excess). Lastly use another clean cloth/ball and remove all the excess. For really scratched discs, you might have to repeat the process a couple times - but I've found once through does the trick in the vast majority of cases.

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

I use toothpaste as well.

Whenever I get an expensive program I always make a backup copy and store the original away.

When I don't do that I alwayts am super carefull not to handle the originals very much. Most instal discs (like Sonar) are only required once in a while so just use extreme care:)

Hooray!!!

I used some Brasso with cotton balls to get out the main scratch and then worked lightly on the overall disc.

I have 2 DVD drives on my DAW, neither liked the DVD at first, but after cleaning with the Brasso... the first drive STILL didn't like the DVD... , however the second drive was a bit more tolerant and I took the opportunity to make an ISO.

Just re-installed off the ISO and everything seems to be fine now! Nice cheap solution, thanks everyone!

I've had the same thing happen before and it is WAY frustrating.


I copy the dvd's when I first get them to a hd (thnk your deity-of-choice storage is so cheap these days)