Expert: Trev - 10/14/2001

Question
Hi, Trev.  I was wondering about whether a scratch on the art side of the cd effects the data on the CD (installation, game play).  It seems only cosmetic (a scratch where the art ink or whatever they used, is removed) and does not seem to penetrate the plastic of the disk itself.  Would minor scratches on that side be the equivalent of minor scratches on the other side--ususally harmless?

Answer
Sorry it took so long for me to respond.  My internet has been down for the last couple days.  I'm talking to you from an internet cafe.

No you won't see any adverse effects from scratches on the top side of the cd.  Even minor scratches on the bottom are not a big deal as the data is store beneath a thin layer of plastic.  There are even products that remove scratches from CDs to restore them to like-new quality.

I wouldn't worry about any scratches on the top unless they are deep enough to go through the cd.

Let me know if you have any more questions,
Trev