How to Recover Unreadable CDs/DVDs: Just Boil Them!

Did it ever happen to you to buy a new CD or DVD only to find out that
the optical drive doesn't recognize it? There's a good way of making it
readable again and it doesn't involve rocket science. It just requires
a good hot bath.



Not for you, for the disk. Boiling disks in water for

a short time can recover even the most stubborn of them and can save
you from pulling out some hairs from not being able to play the coolest
game in the world that you just purchased.



One of the reasons why a brand new disk can become unrecognizable for
the drive is the exposure to condensation, a phenomenon that occurs
within the plastic wrapped subscription, as water molecules trapped in
the air turn liquid when the temperature drops, for example during
shipping.



The thin layer of plastic covering all discs, meant to protect the
readable surface, can expand and contract in the optical drives, where
the temperature is much higher than in the room or on a store shelf.
The simplest way to eliminate water from the disk is to boil it.



Now don't go boil them like you were making soup, you just need enough
water in a ball to cover the disk, then place the ball WITHOUT THE DISK
in the microwave oven for about 60 seconds. If you put the actual disk
in the oven, you won't get a readable disk back, you will only get to
see a fireworks display and will be stuck with a probably useless
appliance.



After you take the ball out of the oven, put the disk inside for 30 to
40 seconds that take it out using a tool, not your fingers, to grab it
by the inner orifice and then dry it off with a paper towel gently.



The reason this process works is because the small elastomeric film on
the disk is forced to expand, thus fixing all minor twists caused by
shipping and removing the particles or debris from the surface in the
hot water.



Now that you know a new use for your microwave, get ready for an instant RPG soup...