Optical Drive Cleaning

fimble · 05 Jan 2011

Some of those nicotine stainings can be really stubborn though.
I've always advocated using a slightly moist Brillo pad backed up with plenty of elbow grease.

James Colbert · 05 Jan 2011

I quit smoking 10 years ago, but I can honestly say I've never found a need to clean my optical drives. I've been using computers since '92.

James

seekermeister · 05 Jan 2011

fimble said:

Some of those nicotine stainings can be really stubborn though.
I've always advocated using a slightly moist Brillo pad backed up with plenty of elbow grease.

Now there is a really "useful" remark.

seekermeister · 05 Jan 2011

James Colbert said:

I quit smoking 10 years ago, but I can honestly say I've never found a need to clean my optical drives. I've been using computers since '92.

James

I have never been too good about this chore before either, but since I'm currently into encoding a large collection of DVDs, I feel that anything that might squeeze a few more FPS on a task, would make the job a bit faster, and I might finish it before the end of time.

James Colbert · 05 Jan 2011

seekermeister said:

James Colbert said:

I quit smoking 10 years ago, but I can honestly say I've never found a need to clean my optical drives. I've been using computers since '92.

James

I have never been too good about this chore before either, but since I'm currently into encoding a large collection of DVDs, I feel that anything that might squeeze a few more FPS on a task, would make the job a bit faster, and I might finish it before the end of time.

Tell me how much time you need. If it goes beyond the the end, I'll see what I can do (to extend time, not help encode your discs...).

James

linnemeyerhere · 05 Jan 2011

Rules of repair:
1) Don't fix what isn't broken
Second rule:
2) See rule number one

A Guy · 05 Jan 2011

seekermeister said:

A Guy said:

I wouldn't use windex, at this point I'd leave it be. Distilled water, or alcohol that doesn't leave residue is one thing, cleaners with ammonia and such, I wouldn't. A Guy

You may well be right, but aren't the lens made of glass? If so, I would think that a glass cleaner would be perfect...streak free.

This is optical glass, maybe even with a coating. No saying what effect it might have, maybe none. Drives are cheap though :)

A Guy

seekermeister · 06 Jan 2011

linnemeyerhere said:

Rules of repair:
1) Don't fix what isn't broken
Second rule:
2) See rule number one

Agreed. but maintenance is not repair.

linnemeyerhere · 06 Jan 2011

This is true and fortunately if something goes wrong these optical drives sans BluRay's are cheap. I would use a camera lens cleaning kit. I would use a dry q-tip at first and look at it with a magnifier. Then light moisten a fresh q-tip and allow to sit for 10 seconds then swab the lens and immediately dry with a clean q-tip then blast the lens with the camera lens bubble brush.