Hi,

Does anyone have any experienceof CD cleaning discs? How do they work?
Are they 'risky' in anyway? Do they do any good?

The reason I ask is that I recently got a new (used, but new to me). It's an
Arcam Alpha 8SE.
It plays regular CDs fine, but I had a problem with a CD-R that I had made
in my PC.
After a bit of fiddling I made another copy of it, which worked. The
original disc was a blue CD-R made by Maxell, I think - well a known brand
anyway. The second copy was on a silver CD-R made by Philips.
I tried this becasue I had seen a comment on the newsgroups re. blue CDs
being a bit 'iffy'. Apparently that's true, at least in my single
experience.
The blue disc did, however, play correctly in a friend's Alpha 8SE, so the
Arcam player is not inherently incapable of playing blue CD-Rs (or whatever
the issue with the disc was).

So, my point (eventually!)... Maybe my CD player has a bit of dust or dirt
on the laser lens, which makes it a little more sensitive to particular
discs. Is this possible?
Would a cleaning disc fix the problem?
Would a cleaning disc trash my CD player?

Thanks, John

On Tue, 2 Sep 2003 22:31:20 +0100, John Fryatt wrote:
Hi,

Does anyone have any experienceof CD cleaning discs? How do they work?

If by "work" you mean "ruin your player". That they excell at it.


Are they 'risky' in anyway? Do they do any good?
Yes. They're very good at what they do.

Ever seen what wiping dust off a plastic cover can do? Imagine doing that
at 300rpm. Rubbing dust (very small abrasive particles) off a lens
at high speed is a rather bad idea.

Pull the unit; pull the cover, and clean the lens with denatured rubbing
alcohol and a q-tip, being carefull not to leave any lint. This shouldn't
take more than 5 minutes.

Keep in mind that dirt on the lens is only one of many problems a cd
player can have and in the minority.

So, not a recommendation then? ;-)

Are you saying that if I take off the cover from my CD player I will be able
to see the laser lens?

I might do something as relatively easy as that, but I wouldn't want to get
into any major dismantling.
I'd probably end up with a couple of screws and bit of bent metal left over
when I put it back together. ;-)

John


"TCS" wrote in message
news:slrnbla560.2r7.The.Central.Scrutinizer@turing .kaosol.net...
On Tue, 2 Sep 2003 22:31:20 +0100, John Fryatt
wrote:
Hi,

Does anyone have any experienceof CD cleaning discs? How do they work?

If by "work" you mean "ruin your player". That they excell at it.


Are they 'risky' in anyway? Do they do any good?
Yes. They're very good at what they do.

Ever seen what wiping dust off a plastic cover can do? Imagine doing that
at 300rpm. Rubbing dust (very small abrasive particles) off a lens
at high speed is a rather bad idea.

Pull the unit; pull the cover, and clean the lens with denatured rubbing
alcohol and a q-tip, being carefull not to leave any lint. This shouldn't
take more than 5 minutes.

Keep in mind that dirt on the lens is only one of many problems a cd
player can have and in the minority.

"John Fryatt" wrote in message
...
So, not a recommendation then? ;-)

Are you saying that if I take off the cover from my CD player I will
be able
to see the laser lens?

I might do something as relatively easy as that, but I wouldn't want
to get
into any major dismantling.
I'd probably end up with a couple of screws and bit of bent metal
left over
when I put it back together. ;-)

Ususally a piece of cake. Remove the case and you should see the
transport mech. The lens is the little glassy lens-looking thing in
the centre of the transport. It will be usually be 'framed' by an oval
cut-out in the tray (to allow the laser to track across the CD).

The only bits you'll actually need to remove are the case top and it's
securing screws.

Excellent. Thanks for the advice.

John


"Stimpy" wrote in message
...

"John Fryatt" wrote in message
...
So, not a recommendation then? ;-)

Are you saying that if I take off the cover from my CD player I will
be able
to see the laser lens?

I might do something as relatively easy as that, but I wouldn't want
to get
into any major dismantling.
I'd probably end up with a couple of screws and bit of bent metal
left over
when I put it back together. ;-)

Ususally a piece of cake. Remove the case and you should see the
transport mech. The lens is the little glassy lens-looking thing in
the centre of the transport. It will be usually be 'framed' by an oval
cut-out in the tray (to allow the laser to track across the CD).

The only bits you'll actually need to remove are the case top and it's
securing screws.