off topic - mouldy CD! HELP!?

[Geoff]

Hi all,
Somewhat off topic but I need some help, and fast. I have a CD of a friend (all their wedding songs) and it's been sitting in my drawer (not in it's cover, I know..no lectures please!) but inbetween paper. The CD itself is not scratched at all but has this very odd mouldy appearance. I have taken it to my local video shop who put it through a somewhat cheap and cheerful CD cleaner, it is MARGINALLY better but still won't play. Can anyone recommend something to get this off? I thought about exit mould or a non abrasive (ajax gel) to clean it but haven't as yet. Can anyone suggest what could work? I am dead if the CD is non-functional. Thanks in advance,


Geoff.

[Killakoala]

I have heard of this happening in the past, and i have not heard of any remedy to get rid of it.

It's not your fault, but a manufacturing flaw with the CD. Is it an original pressed CD or a CD-R?

[Geoff]

Ergh..killa this is not good news. It's a CD-R . I am screwed!

[Killakoala]

Is the mould on the surface or below it? If it's below then i doubt you'll be able to do anything at all. Manufacturing imperfections in the protective coating will allow moisture to get in and mould to form. This is expecially likely if the CD is a cheap Yum Cha brand. (read Princo, no-label or similar)

If it's on the surface then perhaps Rapid Mould Klller (not the selley's brand) may fix it. It is a chlorine based mould killer and is excellent on any type of mould. I would not reccommend using ANY abrasive at all.

I have searched the web and could not find anything useful.

Sorry mate.

[birddog114]

Ergh..killa this is not good news. It's a CD-R . I am screwed!

Geoff,
That why someone paid som blank media for few cents and other paid for few dollars.
It's "gone with the wind" Yep! it's.

[Geoff]

Thanx for your replies guys. Now I have to tell the bride (who's marriage didn't last a year)...I feel bad for her but it can't be be fault...explaining this to her may be a challenge. Thanx again.


Geoff. PS - I didn't buy the cheap-o brand of CD, it was 'digitor'.

[Killakoala]

More searching has revealed these;

http://tips.oncomputers.info/archives20 ... ept-07.htm

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/7751

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1402533.stm

There is no information on how to get rid of it though.

[Geoff]

BINGO!! Fixed (not completely but it recognises all tracks...now they are just skipping a lot, but I will apply more exit mould)!!! Thanx EXIT-MOULD - the surface of the disk STILL looks like shyte but it is playing...I will burn it immediately!


Geoff.

[digitor]

If you can now read the CD but it's skipping badly, try a program called Exactaudiocopy, it's free, and probably the best ripper around - it will check the sectors a minimum of twice to get a good extraction. This will succed where no other ripper will give a good result.

Cheers

[Geoff]

Thanx mate,
After soaking the CD in exit mould for a few hours, the complete CD is both burnable and playbable...NO skps! *YES*!!! My hands stink of bleach but hey, it was definately worth it!

[Killakoala]

That is a great relief Geoff. I was worried for you.

[MattC]

Geoff,

Now that you have it working, I recommend software such as CDcheck to recover the data in full (if possible).

Cheers

Matt

[Geoff]

Thanx Matt,
Will check it out!


Geoff.

[MattC]

Geoff,

CDCheck - http://www.elpros.si/CDCheck/ - free for personal use, all you need to do is register it.

Cheers

Matt

[Geoff]

You're a champ Matt - thanx!