Sometimes there is only a single copy of an optical media containing important information, and there is no backup copy. To create such a copy, it is necessary to read the disc with good quality at least once.
Instructions
Step 1
If at least some of the files could be read, immediately back them up.
Step 2
Check if the damage to the disc is actually scratches. Perhaps it's just pollution. They can be removed with a fingernail, a piece of plastic (but by no means metal), or even gently washed off. But before placing the disc in the drive after washing, it must be thoroughly dried. Be careful not to allow water and heat to peel off the foil on the back of the media. It is better to use water at room temperature, and carry out natural drying. Do not use fan heaters, hair dryers, radiators, etc. to speed it up.
Step 3
If the disc cannot be read in one drive, try using another. It may also happen that one drive reads some files on the disk, another - others. Those that you managed to read should also be backed up immediately.
Step 4
After backing up all the files for which such an operation turned out to be possible, proceed to polishing the disk. Purchase a special paste made for polishing mobile phone displays. Use it according to the instructions. If some of the scratches are on the side of the foil, do not try to polish that side - you will only enlarge them.
Step 5
Carefully remove any traces of polishing paste from the disc. It may need to be rinsed and dried again.
Step 6
Try to read the disc again with different drives. Back up anything you can copy.
Step 7
Do not discard the disc after it turns out that nothing else has been saved from it. Perhaps in the future, your arsenal will be replenished with a few more drives, other polishing tools that will help you extract a few more files from it. If you could not reserve the most important ones, contact a special company specializing in information recovery.
