Just One Disc?

[StripeTheGremlin]

Discovered that one of the discs in a series DVD set is partially damaged so one episode freezes and skips in a certain area. This partially answers my issues with DVD software which I had inquired about earlier.

I'd hate to have to replace the entire set as the rest of it is fine and I am on a low budget so is it by any chance possible maybe via Amazon (I don't use Ebay, had a problem with them and my account has been on lockdown for, no joke, 7 years, longish story. Plus their system is irritating) to purchase just a single disc from a set?

[bhg481]

You could try copying the bad DVD onto a blank one and see if that works. Copying software is quite persistent at trying to get around errors, so you may end up with a good disk.
I usually copy onto a DVD-RW, so nothing is lost if it doesn't work. The only snag may be that the device you are using to play the DVDs won't read DVD-RWs, in which case you'll have to go for a DVD-R or DVD+R.

[sunny-dave]

Have you tried cleaning the disc - it's unlikely that the actual data is corrupt, just the surface of the plastic is dirty/scratched.

Spectacle cleaning tissues work very well, as do 'screen wipes' or even a drop of window cleaning spray on a paper towel.

As a last desperate measure, if you are convinced that nothing less abrasive will work and have tried the gentler methods above, try rubbing some toothpaste gently into the surface of the disc with a paper towel - work side to side (not in circles) and give it a while to work. Then rinse the disc well under a warm tap, dry very thoroughly and re-clean with screen wipe etc as above.

Always make sure that the disc is very dry and residue free before trying in the dvd player or computer disc drive.

[StripeTheGremlin]

@Sunny-Dave: Toothpaste really? Interesting. That method actually sounds quite similar to that which was required with a bottle of cleaner I bought several years ago for another disc that displayed the same issues. After multiple tries however there was no improvement. I will attempt a few screen wipes however.

@bhg481: Clever. Wonder how I never thought of that. If cleaning does not work I will acquire DVD RWs or the alternatives and try this. Question, in what cases will DVD RWs not be read by a player?

[bhg481]

I think I'd try copying BEFORE any abrasive cleaning of the disk, just in case the abrasion wrecks it - screen wipes etc should be OK.

Optical drives come in many flavours, some will only read disks and some will also write them, so you can get a drive which will, for example, read and write CDs but will only read DVDs. If your drive will write DVD disks it will also read them but it's no good writing a DVD on your computer and expecting it to play on a domestic DVD player - it might, but no guarantee (the instruction manual should state what disks can be played). On the other hand, if you have a domestic DVD RECORDER, then it should cope with RW disks.

[galeck1947]

Download and run CD RECOVERY TOOLBOX FREE and it should fix your dvd if it can be fixed . I have used it on occasions on burnt discs and it has repaired the damaged parts. I t is worth a try

[StripeTheGremlin]

UPDATE: I've tried the gentle surface wipe but in doing so discovered a small scratch that is probably the culprit so I doubt any cleaning will remedy it. Any ideas for scratches?
bhg481 Thanks I'll be sure to read labels before I select what to buy. Whenever I can get around to it anyway.

[StripeTheGremlin]

UPDATE:
Asked my mother's boyfriend who is an IT expert and he says it's pretty much hopeless and that the toothpaste suggestion not only doesn't have much of a success rate but might even make it worse.

Look like I'll be putting a new set on my wishlist.
Thank you for all the suggestions.

[bhg481]

If mum's boyfriend is an IT expert wouldn't he have a bash at copying it for you. It seems to me that he'll have more facilities than you and the knowhow to get round any problems which might arise, like a protected disk.