CD game disks corrosion, what the hell?

[godkiller]

I keep disk protectors on my favorite, keeper games. But recently I noticed some of them weren't loading right. So I took off the protectors to see what looks like corrosion or something. It looks like tiny rust or something on the disk metal, looking though the plastic. You have to hold it up to the light to see it. Or it may be a problem with the plastic, not sure.

Most of my PS2 game had some, and my old PS1 games were really affected. Now I store all disks in ziplock bags. I assume it was humidity that did this.

Anyone else have this problem?

[Valkysas]

Re: CD game disks corrosion, what the hell?

I keep all my games in their original cases. They're all fine.

[Thutmose]

Re: CD game disks corrosion, what the hell?

I've heard of this kind of thing happening when the disc protectors weren't actually made of acid-free, archival, plastic.

That said, keeping discs in the original case is probably the best way to store them. In a proper case, the disc's data track doesn't make physical contact with any surface, which reduces the likelihood of damage. It also promotes airflow, preventing humidity from being trapped against the disc's surface.

That said - my C64's giant floppies are still in perfect working condition after having been kept in cardboard box in a garage for like 20 years, each inside of their own paper sleeve.

EDIT: We should get the MythBusters on this one. Do disk protectors do more harm than good? I foresee the finale being a test to determine whether a disc with a protector better survives a C4 detonation than one without.

[John Mora]

Re: CD game disks corrosion, what the hell?

What irony, the disc protectors are actually ruining discs.

[Thutmose]

Re: CD game disks corrosion, what the hell?

What irony, the disc protectors are actually ruining discs.

Irony is an indicator of a good marketing team.

They were probably originally developed in some research lab as a means of destroying discs over a period of several years.

But, the Marketing Department couldn't figure out a way of advertising something that took so long to destroy data, and rebranded it.

I can see hear the marketing team now:

"It looks like a condom, but for CDs....."

"That's it! 'A condom for CDs' There's our copy; run with it!"

[Stormy]

Re: CD game disks corrosion, what the hell?

Yeah, I've got game discs that are over 10 years old, in their original cases, and they work fine.

Some of them are scratched pretty badly (Might and Magic VI, which is at least 16 years old) and they work great(for a DOS game running on Windows 7).

[godkiller]

Re: CD game disks corrosion, what the hell?

I've heard of this kind of thing happening when the disc protectors weren't actually made of acid-free, archival, plastic.

That said, keeping discs in the original case is probably the best way to store them. In a proper case, the disc's data track doesn't make physical contact with any surface, which reduces the likelihood of damage. It also promotes airflow, preventing humidity from being trapped against the disc's surface.

Crap, your probably right, makes sense. I guess I'll store them in their original cases and take off all protectors. I stored some without protectors, I'll compare them to make sure.

I've done some digging and this kind of thing is called disk rot. The metal will rust and time plastic and metal will seperate over time causing little bubbles. You should store them in low heat and low humidity and standing cases on their side, not flat. Ziplock bags may not be a bad idea, have to dig into that further.

But beware, CDs are not immortal, esspecially if you live in high heat, high humidity areas. The damage came start off very small, you have to hold them close to a light, at an angle to see what looks like tiny smudges in the plastic.