Rob Goodlatte

Although I’m a huge fan of OS X on my new MacBook, I keep a Windows XP desktop around for gaming and some day-to-day uses. Windows always slows down on me over time, neccessitating at least a bi-annual reinstall. After backing-up my data, I began the reinstall process from my XP Pro CD. The install failed due to a scratched disc, rendering my desktop utterly useless. I searched the internet for the best solution for recovering scratched CDs and stumbled upon the miracle cure: toothpaste.

As unusual as the solution sounds, it actually makes sense. Most CD scratches aren’t deep enough to destroy data, they only damage the clear protective coating above the data layer. An abrasive such as toothpaste can grind away a small amount of the protective layer to smooth it and allow data to be read. I tested the now minty-fresh Windows disc on my MacBook by installing Windows on a virtual partition in Parallels, and it worked flawlessly. After backing up the readable disc to a CD-R, I successfully reinstalled Windows on my desktop.

Here are some good guides from around the net to recovering CDs with toothpaste:

The Screen Savers: How to Remove CD Scratches (RIP TechTV)
Life Hacker: MacGyver Tip: Fix scratched CDs with toothpaste
Hardware Secrets: Recoving Scratched CDs

 

1. Elessar June 22nd at 6:32 pm

   Surprisingly, toothpaste helps plenty of things. Another being fixing glass…my watch was scratched and i didnt want to replace the watch or pay for a new piece of glass, so i was told to rub toothpaste on it to smooth the scratch…

   And it worked…not perfect, but it worked enough to lessen the scratch. As for Windows, i usually re-install every few months. My laptop sucks and starts to run slow after a while…so until i get a Macbook (god only knows how long that will take), im stuck with XP…

2. Krad June 25th at 2:24 pm

   You don’t need to reinstall windows if you know how to properly configure windows. DOn’t call me a windows fanboy. I got osx, ubuntu and windows on my dell laptop. Windows is the fastest.. you just need to do some minor tweaks and remove things like..

   -indexing
   -system restore
   -make recycle bin smaller
   - do a noguiboot in msconfig
   - stop and disable all un-needed services
   - keep your drivers up to date
   -turn off paging/virtual memory.

   use an app called tunexp 1.5. apply all the tweaks in that application.
   use jv16 or ccleaner
   get a good defrag app like O&O defrag

   once you do all those small steps you will never need to reload windows.

   Also use an app called acronis true image to make a hd backup to a hidden partition on your computer so you can restore if you break it.

   I used to reload every 3 months.. not anymore.

3. Elessar June 25th at 11:11 pm

   LMAO…remove system restore? Unless you back up your computer EVERYDAY with ghost, NEVER turn off system restore!

4. Lucian Marin June 27th at 1:22 pm

   @Elessar
   I always remove System Restore, because it consumes a lot of hard disk space, mostly when I install and remove programs daily. You’re right about backup, but not with Ghost, just simply copy+paste in a different drive, but only files that I care about.

 

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