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Don't Put Disc in the Drive Any More! DVD Drive Scratching DVDs

Playing DVD is generally considered as simple as putting an elephant in a refrigerator. But that's not the case. As the decline of optical drives on computers, some users can't play DVDs at all, and some others are stuck with various DVD playback errors such as no disc error, DVD drive not reading discs. But the last thing you want is that DVD drive scratching your discs. For example, you play DVD well, yet you find a circle scratched all the way around on disc after you take it out, or the screen freezes all of a sudden and you hear a low humming/vibrating noise from DVD dirve, then the disc get scratched.

Why your DVD disc is scratched by the drive? How to stop DVD drive from scratching DVD discs and fix scratched DVD discs without loss of the original contents on DVD? This article is at your disposal for any questions related to optical drives damaging discs. Whereas, prevention is better than cure. You're suggested to rip DVD to digital formats for playing DVDs without optical drives and averting DVD scratches radically.

Fix DVDs Scratched by DVD Player and Back up DVDs for Protection

You have little leeway to fix the optical drive damaging DVD error, but only inserting DVD correctly, avoiding vibration, cleaning the disc or buying another DVD drive. However, that doesn't guarantee DVDs won't get scratched. Repeated reads and analysis would essentially cause scratches and shorten the DVD lifespan. Why not fix the problem once for all? You can try WinX DVD Ripper Platinum to digitize your DVD discs for watching on any media players, PCs/Mac, TVs, iPhone iPad Android, without putting your disc into optical drives.

  • Rip a full DVD movie to digital within 3 steps and 5 minutes thanks to GPU acceleration.
  • Made a special update to fix slightly scratched/damaged DVDs by skipping bad sectors.
  • Convert DVD of any types, from new/old DVDs, TV series DVDs, to workout discs etc.
  • Backup and rip DVD to MP4, MKV, MPEG-2, ISO image and 350+ profiles with lossless quality.
Free Download for Win 7 or later
Free Download for Mac OS X 10.6 or later

For Windows and Mac only. If you are a mobile user, please click here.

Why Does DVD Drive Scratch Your Discs?

Generally, DVD drive will not make scratches on DVDs when it reads DVD disc since the optical drive and the disk both are reading information without contact. But there are cases that DVD disc get scratched in the drive because the laser head is too close to the surface of the disc. The specific causes go as follows:

  • If the DVD disc is inserted to the drive improperly, DVD drive won't read discs, and may scratch DVDs.
  • The optical drive vibrates by a force or is placed in a tilt angle when reading discs. It will get the focusing lens in the laser head contacts the disk surface, leading to circular scratches on DVDs.
  • A dirty disc may also cause scratches because the laser head will read the dirty part or bad sector over and over again.
  • DVD drive is aging and the servo will not run steadily, resulting in a scratched DVD. Try another external DVD drives for your laptop >>

As DVD disc has a certain lifespan, it's inevitable that DVD gets scratched. The only thing we can do is to slow down this process. Therefore, making a digital copy of DVD to store your DVD disc somewhere safe seems a nice option, which can minimize the chance of DVD scratching your disc or any other physical damages on DVDs. For that, a DVD ripper is the easiest and fastest way to convert DVD to any formats to fit any screens without DVD inserted or HDMI/Wi-Fi required.

DVD drive scratching DVD discs

How to Fix DVD Drive Scratching DVD Error Thoroughly?

Rip DVD to Digital Formats for Playing DVDs without Optical Drives

After you downloaded the DVD ripper installer, please accomplish the setup by following the wizard. Then launch it and digitize DVD with the steps below.

Free Download for Win 7 or later
Free Download for Mac OS X 10.6 or later

For Windows and Mac only. If you are a mobile user, please click here.

Step 1. Insert your DVD disc into the optical drive carefully and correctly. Click "DVD Disc" button at the top left corner to load your DVD. The correct main title will be checked by default when the DVD is fully loaded.

Step 2. Choose an output format from the automatically popped up window. As you can see, you're allowed to convert DVD to MP4, MKV, MPEG-2, ISO image, WMV, MOV, iPhone iPad Android and more. Just pick one from 350+ preconfigured profiles according to your needs.

Rip DVD to digital to avoid DVD drive scratching disc

Step 3. Hit RUN button to start ripping DVD immediately. Wait a few minutes to finish it (merely 5 minutes when hardware acceleration is enabled), and you're able to watch DVD movies on any screens without inserting a disc.

Disclaimer: Digiarty Software does not advocate ripping copy-protected DVDs for any commercial purpose and suggests to refer to the DVD copyright laws in your countries before doing so.

FAQs about DVD Player Scratching Discs

Can a DVD player damage a DVD?

Yes. In very rare cases, a DVD player can damage a DVD. This is more likely if the disc is already scratched or dirty. While the laser reads without contact, deep scratches or debris can make the laser malfunction. This can cause the player to scrape the disc further as it tries to read the data. For healthy DVDs, the risk is very low.

What causes scratches on DVDs?

Scratches on DVDs can come from two main culprits: our handling and the disc's journey. Mishandling, like touching the data side or leaving them loose, is a common cause. Scratches can also sneak in during manufacturing or shipping from rubbing against the case or other discs.

How do you make a DVD not scratch?

Unfortunately, there's no way to make a DVD completely scratch-proof. However, you can significantly reduce scratches with careful handling and proper storage. Here's the key: Use a microfiber cloth to hold the DVD by the edges, never the data side. Store them right: Keep them in their cases and avoid stacking them loosely. Consider using spindle sleeves for extra protection.

Why do DVDs become unreadable?

DVDs can become unreadable for two main reasons: wear and tear or natural breakdown. Scratches, fingerprints, and dust can all block the laser's ability to read the data. Over time, even without physical damage, DVDs can degrade due to disc rot, a chemical breakdown caused by heat, light, or poor manufacturing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

author - Kistent Waung

Kistent Waung twitter icon

Graduated from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, she employs herself in IT related content creation (since 2013) and happens to perfectly combine her major (computer & science) and her gusto (writing). She's seasoned at offering video audio conversion workarounds and always passionate about new trends, from hot HEVC, 4K to the new AV1 codec.

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