Problem

Dr. A. Cula · May 22, 2003, 02:17

Hi,

I need some help from people with detailed technical knowledge about DVD-ROM drives. Are they supposed to press the lens on the surface of regular CDs so hard they leave marks? I just removed from the drive my Civ3 PTW CD after about 1 month of playing. The surface was scratched almost all over the disc, but the heaviest damage was done in the area where I think the copy protection scheme lies. I'm at work now so I can't check if the CD still works.

I'm not sure if this a hardware problem or it is related to the copy protection scheme.

If I'm in the wrong forum, I'm sorry.

Mad Bomber · May 22, 2003, 05:14

Dr Cula:

You are probably in the wrong forum, try the forum that is related to computer issues (cant remember the actual forum title) or you can contact tech support at CIV3.com. If that fails then contact tech support for the DVD-ROM manufacturer.

dexters · May 22, 2003, 07:01

It's probably not the lense. There may be foreign particles in your drive.

Use a CD cleaner to see if it helps.

vmxa1 · May 22, 2003, 13:21

I never had that issue with any of my DVD-ROM or DVD burners.

bongo · May 22, 2003, 13:53

There may be less damage than you think. Data is actually stored close to the 'text' side of the CD. If you can fill up the scratches and polish it it probably be fine.

Or you can ask infogrames/atari to send you a replacement CD.

Panag · May 22, 2003, 17:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. A. Cula
Hi,

I need some help from people with detailed technical knowledge about DVD-ROM drives. Are they supposed to press the lens on the surface of regular CDs so hard they leave marks? I just removed from the drive my Civ3 PTW CD after about 1 month of playing. The surface was scratched almost all over the disc, but the heaviest damage was done in the area where I think the copy protection scheme lies. I'm at work now so I can't check if the CD still works.

I'm not sure if this a hardware problem or it is related to the copy protection scheme.

If I'm in the wrong forum, I'm sorry.

hi ,

*sigh* , you are not the only one , .....

they used very cheap disks at infogrames , ....

anyway , is your drive standing up or laying flat

try a different disk and see what happens , ......

have a nice day

Dr. A. Cula · May 23, 2003, 02:38

Well the good news is I can still play PTW. Most of the traces left on the disk were dust, so they went away, but still there are a few scratches in the center of the disk, outside the data area. Maybe it's time to invest in a lens cleaning package.

The drive is laying flat and sometimes windoze has the nasty habit of ignoring it completely. Other than that, it works fine and hasn't left any traces on any other disks and read them all fine.

Thanks for the answers.

Panag · May 23, 2003, 11:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. A. Cula
Well the good news is I can still play PTW. Most of the traces left on the disk were dust, so they went away, but still there are a few scratches in the center of the disk, outside the data area. Maybe it's time to invest in a lens cleaning package.

The drive is laying flat and sometimes windoze has the nasty habit of ignoring it completely. Other than that, it works fine and hasn't left any traces on any other disks and read them all fine.

Thanks for the answers.

hi ,

make sure the problem aint with the laser , .....

for around 10 bucks you can pick up a good one in most parts of this world

it could be that the marks where there and you did not see it before , ....

have a nice day