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Fix a cracked CD?
- Thread starter Mehta23
- Start date
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
How is the music stored on the CD? Is this a store-bought music CD or a "Red Book" CDDA clone? If so, then you might have a chance of saving some or all of the music because CDDA recordings have built-in data redundancy. It's still a long shot.
If it's a data CD with music files on it, you're probably out of luck. If the disc is cracked, the metal substrate on which the data is stored is permanently damaged. Unlike scratched discs where the optical properties of the damaged plastic surface can often be repaired, cracks can't be fixed AFAIK. And with no error correction data in the audio files, you will lose data.
You can try realigning the break, and maybe taping the label side of the disc to stabilize it. Use glue only as a last resort! Once it's set, there's no going back. If you have access to a microscope, you can examine the nature of the break under the microscope, and maybe use it to help in re-aligning the metal substrate.
Good luck!...
If it's a data CD with music files on it, you're probably out of luck. If the disc is cracked, the metal substrate on which the data is stored is permanently damaged. Unlike scratched discs where the optical properties of the damaged plastic surface can often be repaired, cracks can't be fixed AFAIK. And with no error correction data in the audio files, you will lose data.
You can try realigning the break, and maybe taping the label side of the disc to stabilize it. Use glue only as a last resort! Once it's set, there's no going back. If you have access to a microscope, you can examine the nature of the break under the microscope, and maybe use it to help in re-aligning the metal substrate.
Good luck!...
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
It's worth a try, if for no other reason than to practice on. If the person who gave you the CD isn't cracked or missing, you can get another. 
EDIT: I should point out that only pre-stamped CD discs have a metalized surface with the data stamped directly onto it. Recordable media (CD-R, CD-RW) use organic dyes that can possibly leak and/or degrade when the disc is cracked. Also, recordable media typically use silver as the reflective metal layer, vs. aluminum for most pre-stamped discs. The silver will also tarnish when exposed to oxygen in the air. So if you're going to take a stab at data recovery, the clock is ticking...
EDIT: I should point out that only pre-stamped CD discs have a metalized surface with the data stamped directly onto it. Recordable media (CD-R, CD-RW) use organic dyes that can possibly leak and/or degrade when the disc is cracked. Also, recordable media typically use silver as the reflective metal layer, vs. aluminum for most pre-stamped discs. The silver will also tarnish when exposed to oxygen in the air. So if you're going to take a stab at data recovery, the clock is ticking...
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
Better get cracking! :laugh:
350X
Android Expert
Get a copy of the program called VSO blindwrite ver 5-6 is fine, don't need newer less you PC can't run it. [kinda think 5 was the best, but got both]
Have used it before on a broken discs, use one of them big top CD label to put it back well and not toss the disc out of balance or make the crack worse as it spins FAST.
Have used it before on a broken discs, use one of them big top CD label to put it back well and not toss the disc out of balance or make the crack worse as it spins FAST.
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
On the software end there are all sorts of forensic recovery tools that might help. The "Carving" section might be helpful for pulling incomplete MP3 files off the disc. I use CDParanoia to rip CDDA discs in order to get a perfect rip, but it can't help here.
Most of the software that I use allows me to set the spin rate of the drive (as long as the drive supports it) to get a better rip. In this case it's a good idea to try to read it at 1x speed if possible!
Most of the software that I use allows me to set the spin rate of the drive (as long as the drive supports it) to get a better rip. In this case it's a good idea to try to read it at 1x speed if possible!
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
Not surprising. The recording groove on a CD starts near the center, unlike a vinyl record, which starts at the outside. So having a crack that starts from the inside makes it very hard for the drive to find a starting point.
Tools like CnW Forensic CD may be able to find the track listing, which is written at the end of a write, and therefore is further out on the disc. But now you're getting into a heavy duty recovery effort. Is it worth $19.99 for a 30-day license? Actually that's quite reasonable for a product like that. OTOH the cost of buying the MP3 music on the disc may be less than that. :dontknow:
Tools like CnW Forensic CD may be able to find the track listing, which is written at the end of a write, and therefore is further out on the disc. But now you're getting into a heavy duty recovery effort. Is it worth $19.99 for a 30-day license? Actually that's quite reasonable for a product like that. OTOH the cost of buying the MP3 music on the disc may be less than that. :dontknow:
reign_tempest
Newbie
better just get the files again from the net or a record store.... would cost far less than to try to recover its content.
it was a homemade mixtape from a DJ I met on holiday