Author Topic: scratched game discs  (Read 876 times)

Keith Courage

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #15 on: August 25, 2011, 06:40:52 PM »
I have had that happen before. Usually loading up another game first and then loading up the game that doesn't always work gets it going again. Also, try playing a disc as audio and skip the CD to the very last track. Turn off the power while the last track is playing. Now turn on the system and try loading the game again.

farankoshan

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #16 on: August 25, 2011, 09:43:35 PM »
I have had that happen before. Usually loading up another game first and then loading up the game that doesn't always work gets it going again. Also, try playing a disc as audio and skip the CD to the very last track. Turn off the power while the last track is playing. Now turn on the system and try loading the game again.

I will try these 2 methods right away. So there's nothing to be too worried about? This is common?
How do I play a game disc as audio? Won't it automatically run the game?
« Last Edit: August 25, 2011, 09:46:23 PM by farankoshan »
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Keith Courage

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #17 on: August 26, 2011, 06:20:16 AM »
Do you have a play button on the top of your CD drive or do you have a Super CD rom 2 CD drive and not an original CD rom 2 drive. If so then just use any audio CD you own. This happened to me sometime back with the game sherlock holmes. It would always boot up as if it were an audio disc and not load the actual game until I did one of the two methods I mentioned.
« Last Edit: August 27, 2011, 10:05:13 AM by Keith Courage »

farankoshan

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #18 on: August 27, 2011, 10:11:18 AM »
Hey, really great news! My game (Super Darius) is back! That boot switch-up method worked. I waited until the bootable disc got past the Super CD-Rom startup screen, ejected it, then switched discs. At one point, the game even started on its own. Is there any explanation for this? Oh, and is what I'm doing bad for my unit?
"MISSION INCOMPLETE: I cannot f*ck up for this."
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Keith Courage

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2011, 06:14:06 AM »
I just think it has to do with the lens not quite getting to the correct spot on the disc. Not saying the lens is going bad. Maybe the disc itself is partially warped? I have never been able to narrow down the issue to one exact thing. Glad it works though.

farankoshan

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #20 on: August 28, 2011, 11:07:08 AM »
Just wanted to update with a glorious find!

SkipDr works. It really does. I can vouch.

I own 4 games, 2 of which (SimEarth & Super Darius) give me problems. The "pre-boot trick" (mentioned above) really did the trick, but occasionally, the disk would either stop working, hang, lose audio, or begin to give "flapping" noises. This noise is usually associated with CD-Rs & bad discs with bad lenses trying to compensate, as well. So I knew it was only a matter of time until this trick would stop working. My other 2 games would boot up fine, as did audio CDs, so I knew the problem was not with the lens.

These discs could SOMETIMES play on CD players with their Red Book Audio, but as games, they were never dependable, sometimes never getting past the PC Engine CD-Rom screen.

So I looked online for some proper disc scratch fixes & found some (this thread included). I watched videos, read How-To's & went looking for a practical way that wouldn't require expensive professional work. I tried water, alcohol, detailing sprays, toothpaste, CD Repair pastes, rubbing methods, liquid baths, and even contemplated sanding the disc down (DO NOT CONSIDER THIS!). Then I came across a local guy selling a SkipDR classic (not the motorized version, but the hand-crank one). I figured I had reached the bottom of the pit & could not imagine it getting worse, so I called him up & bought it off him.

The mechanism is a wheel that runs round a crank that you attach your damaged CD to (Do a google and see what it looks like). I got myself the SkipDr Classic. It came with a spray, a buffing cloth, the crank machine & a CD tray. I tried SimEarth on first, since this disc NEVER booted up at all. I placed the CD on the SkipDr detachable tray, sprayed on 5 sprits of the provided resurfacing fluid on the data side of the CD, attached the tray to the crank mechanism, and started cranking it. After 1 full rotation, I popped open the tray and sprayed  3 more sprits on the CD, and repeated the process. The crank moves quicker than the discs rotation, allowing for a smooth and steady resurfacing job. After the 2nd round, I popped out the disc, wiped excess moisture from the data side with a micro-fiber cloth, and laid down the disc on a flat surface to buff it back to shininess. I noticed that the disc now had uniformed streaks, perfectly made, going from inside out. It appears the SkipDr's resurfacing wheel is a really, really, really soft abrasive that gently scratches a very thin layer of plastic off the top of the data side, and gives the disc a new surface for the lens to read from. This makes sense, since skips are caused by uneven surfaces caused by scratches, small & big. I must admit, the disc wasn't mirror-like clean, but knowing how most guides say to wipe from inside out, these radial streaks looked like they would be easier for lens lasers to navigate through.

After buffing it enough, I popped it into my Super CD-Rom2 & turned it on. At the startup screen I pressed play/RUN & waited. At this point, I was prepared to see the disc give me an error again & chuck it into the garbage or something.

Then, for the first time ever, it booted up straight away. No joke. It played perfectly after that.

The SkipDr works. Now, the box says that SkipDr cannot remedy deep scratches, and that standard use wear & tear is what it's built for. The motorized & manual versions of the SkipDr both work fine & give the same results, with the motorized one just adding the convenience of saving time & effort.

Both of my discs were relatively scratched & these caused reading problems in my unit. I can't vouch for major scratches, but I can promise that the SkipDr works extremely well to make any discs readable again and is worth a try. My Super Darius is working exceptionally well, with no need for a "pre-boot disc" anymore.

One happy PC Engine owner right here! :)
« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 11:09:27 AM by farankoshan »
"MISSION INCOMPLETE: I cannot f*ck up for this."
- Download, PC-Engine (1990)

RR1980

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #21 on: August 28, 2011, 04:47:44 PM »
you were playing CD-Rs with your Supercdromrom?

farankoshan

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #22 on: August 29, 2011, 03:52:51 AM »
you were playing CD-Rs with your Supercdromrom?
Nope. Only originals CDs.
"MISSION INCOMPLETE: I cannot f*ck up for this."
- Download, PC-Engine (1990)

RR1980

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #23 on: August 29, 2011, 04:03:28 PM »
ok good cause playing cd-r on pce hardware is just asking for trouble!

farankoshan

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #24 on: August 29, 2011, 06:03:54 PM »
Yes, you're right. :)

Anyway, the SkipDr works wonderfully with REAL CDs. Try it out if you've got a scratched up copy of a game you refuse to part with. :)
"MISSION INCOMPLETE: I cannot f*ck up for this."
- Download, PC-Engine (1990)

Keith Courage

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #25 on: December 13, 2011, 08:43:58 PM »
I found a new item that works great on scratched CDs. MR Clean magic eraser. Just make sure not to rub too hard or the disc will become all fogy.

munchiaz

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #26 on: December 13, 2011, 08:55:07 PM »
^ how did you figure that one out

esteban

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #27 on: December 13, 2011, 11:47:55 PM »
I have Dungeon Explorer II (original, US) and the disc would be pristine if not for a nasty nick (I think it is deep).

What do you folks think is the best way to remedy a single, deep gouge? It prevents one of my favorite Red Book tracks from playing to the end (on PCE hardware).

I know that surface scratches are relatively easy to overcome—my problem is less more difficult to overcome.

Such a damn shame, really.

Thanks in advance.
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A_Locomotive

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #28 on: December 14, 2011, 05:43:14 AM »
They have little hand crank versions of the ones the record stores have. They work pretty good I hear.

They do work quite well, I've saved many damaged games with one. Such as my copy of Zone of The Enders that had one hell of a gash in it that resulted from my cat ramming into the side of my PS2 while I was playing. The disc works perfectly again now. There is a downside to the hand crank ones though and that is that the results look terrible, it leaves a very prominent spiral pattern on the disc, doesn't seem to effect readability at all but damn is it annoying when you look at the underside of the discs. :/

DynamiteSJ

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Re: scratched game discs
« Reply #29 on: December 14, 2011, 08:18:54 PM »
invest in the JFJ Disc Repair machine.. I own it and it does miracles!!!! Scratch up games that the Dreamcast, Xbox, Sega CD, TGCD couldnt read.. slap it in there for a cycle and it comes out looking like new with no scratches and plays perfectly. Over time of all the medias currently/previously being CD/DVD... now bluray (bluray compatible)... you'll get your money back and more.