Spots on disc game

[Kitsune Sniper]

A while back I got a ton of games at the flea market - one of them was We Love Katamari. The game plays fine, but it doesn't have music on some stages (or the music just ends at random).

After inspecting the disc, I noticed it had something like water spots on it. I'm not sure how to clean these up; I'm afraid of using alcohol because the disc may warp or something. And tapwater... well, it's not exactly safe for any sort of usage. :p

What can I do to get these cleaned up? Any suggestions? Are there any special wipes I can buy somewhere that won't scratch the disc?

[Joe West]

i always glass & lens cleaner........always worked for me

[JohnnyA]

When you hold the disc up to a light source, can you see through the disc more at the place where the spot is? If so, you've got bit rot. Cannot be rectified.

[Kitsune Sniper]

It's NOT disc rot. It's water-like specks on the disc surface, the same kind that show up if you throw water at a window and it dries up leaving some sort of mark, like dirt or somesuch.

I've dealt with disc rot before (in PC games and music CDs), and this isn't it.

[Poofta!]

this has been discussed in a lot of detail on this website already. search for it.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I guess my search-fu is weak, because I can't find much of anything on the subject.

[JohnnyA]

It's NOT disc rot. It's water-like specks on the disc surface, the same kind that show up if you throw water at a window and it dries up leaving some sort of mark, like dirt or somesuch.

I've dealt with disc rot before (in PC games and music CDs), and this isn't it.

I was just makin sure ;-)

[ProgrammingAce]

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with just washing it under the sink. Luke-warm water, just don't use soap. Dry with a soft towel.

Potential problem though, whatever left the mark may have been corrosive (soda, etc) and the spot may have etched into the plastic. Doesn't take much to throw off the laser.

[spoon]

Does it look like spots on the top of the disc, or like oil sitting in water between the layers? I only ask because I have received a few discs like that before.

From what I could tell, it was a bad pressing. Probably not your problem. Just figured I'd throw it out there.

I've ran into the problem I think you are experiencing. It looks like someone sprayed hair spray near the disc and it's just fused on there. I usually use this stuff we had at my previous employer called Hi-Sheen with a lint free cloth. It is an industrial strength glass cleaner/de-greaser.

If that doesn't work, I'd see if you have any shops locally that actually have a good CD resurfacing machine. The expensive kind, not some cheap ass Disc Doctor shit that leaves marks. A good cleaner can take off light scratches and such without leaving much, if any, evidence of being clean.

Usually only a couple of bucks too. Just don't do DC games. usually ruins them.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with just washing it under the sink. Luke-warm water, just don't use soap. Dry with a soft towel.

Potential problem though, whatever left the mark may have been corrosive (soda, etc) and the spot may have etched into the plastic. Doesn't take much to throw off the laser.

You keep forgetting where I live. ;) You know, while in Mexico, don't drink the water?


Does it look like spots on the top of the disc, or like oil sitting in water between the layers? I only ask because I have received a few discs like that before.

From what I could tell, it was a bad pressing. Probably not your problem. Just figured I'd throw it out there.

I've ran into the problem I think you are experiencing. It looks like someone sprayed hair spray near the disc and it's just fused on there. I usually use this stuff we had at my previous employer called Hi-Sheen with a lint free cloth. It is an industrial strength glass cleaner/de-greaser.

If that doesn't work, I'd see if you have any shops locally that actually have a good CD resurfacing machine. The expensive kind, not some cheap ass Disc Doctor shit that leaves marks. A good cleaner can take off light scratches and such without leaving much, if any, evidence of being clean.

Usually only a couple of bucks too. Just don't do DC games. usually ruins them.

Nah, this doesn't look corrosive or anything. Like I said, it looks like dried up water spots. The disc already has a few light scratches, and I'm afraid of adding a few more so I'm asking around to see what I can do -before- attempting to clean it.

I'll see if I can find a lint free cloth and some lens cleaning liquid. Thanks. :)

[Terminusvitae]

I deal with this sort of thing all the time at my store. Generally, it's nothing a little glass cleaner and elbow grease won't fix--just don't wipe in a circular motion!

[Kitsune Sniper]

Guess what?

The friggin' glass cleaning liquid... uh. Left a film on the disc, and now my PS2 can't read the disc anymore. GEE THAT'S AWESOME. Now I have to get it polished. >_<

[Terminusvitae]

*arches an eyebrow*

Some glass cleaners CAN leave a film, but I've never had the trouble of a player (or console) being unable to read the disc. Of course, I just use Dollar General's brand of glass cleaner, so that may have something to do with it.

The fix is easy enough if you don't want to shell out the money to have the disc resurfaced/polished/buffed. Just a bit of water a soft cloth should do the trick. If it doesn't, I might suggest not drinking the glass cleaner, either!

[Kitsune Sniper]

Wal-Mart's generic glass cleaner sucks. :P

[spoon]

That sucks dude. Sorry. The stuff I use is industrial strength and comes out as a foam. If we ever do a trade, I'll send you a bottle. Guess it's time to get it buffed out.

[ProgrammingAce]

some glass cleaners have amonia, that's why i said tap water...

[spoon]

Yeah, the stuff I use doesn't have ammonia in it either. That's one of the reasons I love the stuff. I thought I put that in my first post. I meant to.