Dec 18, 2002 12:01 AM
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(Updated Dec 18, 2002 12:12 AM)
Proper care, handling and cleaning of both CDs and DVDs is important for the operation of your CD or DVD drive.
Information stored on a DVD is packed onto the disc with a higher compression ratio than on a standard CD. The'pits and lands' on the disc are shorter and the tracks are packed more tightly. DVDs can also be dual-layered or double-sided; this gives a DVD a very high storage capacity, but makes it more susceptible to problems caused by bending and warping of the disc, as well as to scratches, dirt and fingerprints on the disc. There is a large amount of error-correction built into the DVD specification(around 10 times more than conventional CDs) but a DVD drive can still lock up if it comes across a fingerprint or scratch on a disc. Ordinarily, a home theatre'set top' DVD player will skip over areas of a disc that it has problems reading, but the computer DVD drives will continue to try to read from the disc. This may cause the computer to hang. Despite the greater amount of data encoded on DVDs, CDs are still susceptible to the same general problems.
In order to minimize the occurrence of problems relating to CD and DVD media, take the following precautions:
To prevent bending a disc when removing it from the CD or DVD tray, push the'button' in the center of the tray with a finger on one hand, while using the other hand to carefully touch the disc only on its outer edge while gently lifting it out.
Some cases have a special button that, when pressed and released, will'lift' the disc above the case so that it is easily handled by its outer edge; others have indentations in the case that will allow the fingers access to the outer edge of the disc.
Be careful not to touch the surface of any flat area of the disc as this will put fingerprints on the surface of the disc. If a disc seems to be difficult to remove, stop and make sure that the button is being depressed completely.
Keep the discs away from heat and direct sunlight as they can cause the disc to warp.
Keep the discs in the case when not in use. When you have finished playing(or using) the disc immediately put it back in the case. The cases are designed to protect the media from scratches and dust. The cases also make it easier to stack the discs or store them on shelves. Most cases have the title printed along the spine to make it easy recognize when stored.
If a disc has a fingerprint, dust, or dirt on the surface, gently blow any large dust or dirt particles off first. Then use a damp, clean, lint free, soft cloth and gently wipe the disc in a straight line from the inside center hole to the outside edge, lift the cloth and rotate the disc, then start wiping again in a straight line from the inside hole to the outer edge.
Do not use any household cleaners. These can be too harsh and damage the disc. Special disc cleaning cloths and solutions are available at most music and video stores where DVD discs are sold.
Do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc, always wipe in a straight line from center to outer edge.
Use extreme caution when inserting the disc into the drive. Handle the disc by the outer edge of the disc and gently place the disc in the drive tray, being careful to make sure that the artwork side(for single-sided discs) of the disc is facing upward. For double-sided discs be sure that the center ring of the disc reads with the correct format that you want to play(I.E. to play the wide-screen version of the film make sure that the center ring that reads'wide-screen' is facing up).
NOTE: Double-check to make sure that the disc is lying flat in the indentation in the tray and then close the tray.
Be careful when removing the disc from the drive tray to prevent fingerprints on the surface of the disc. Handle it by the edges or carefully stick your finger though the center hole and carefully lift the disc out and return it to its case.
With double-sided discs, be careful to press down only on the center ring of the disc to push it onto the'button' in the center of the case.
