Comments on: A cheap fix for stubborn CD-burning problems

By: Brett Hood

Brett Hood — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:00:24 +0000

@Ed & ShoresofDoom

Thanks for the heads up there. I just didn’t think that FLAC was a widely used format for music files.

By: Bill Wardino

Bill Wardino — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:16:58 +0000

I bought the disk cleaner. It arrived today. Thanks, Ed, for the info.

By: ShoresOfDoom

ShoresOfDoom — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:31:57 +0000

Brett,

I rip all of my music into FLAC format using Exact Audio Copy. This gives me a nice lossless copy that I can transcode in lossy formats (MP3, AAC, WMA) as needed.

By: Narg

Narg — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:11:47 +0000

I’ve always been sceptical of CD Drive cleaning disks. The ones I’ve seen in the past just didn’t seem as if they would have any physical effect on the laser glass in the drive. From reading your post Ed, it seems as if they may have become a bit smarter in these disks. But, so far the old can of compressed air has provided fair results for me. I may have to try your suggestion though, thanks for the insight!

By: thomas williams

thomas williams — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:34:21 +0000

As a long time Music CD collector (over 1000)I have been using a cleaning disc for years on my CD player.
When I frist started messing with computers a bit over two years ago, the first 4 computer I used were hand-me-downs and junk. I just used my regular CD cleaning disc on my computers to improve sound. It worked!!! Seems as if us newbies can teach you Geeks a thing or two.

By: Leo Davidson

Leo Davidson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:23:02 +0000

I wonder why optical drives don’t have some kind of lens cleaner built in? Something that brushes away dust when the drive head is parked.

I suppose after a while the brush itself would get dusty but it should prolong the period where everything’s fine. Can’t see if costing much to add, either.

By: Ed Bott

Ed Bott — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:46:22 +0000

Brett, most of the music I download (legally, from archive.org and bt.etree.org) is distributed in lossless FLAC format. I prefer to rip music in lossless WMA format as well. If I buy an album from online sources, it comes in MP3 format, which is fine, but I would prefer to keep it lossless.

By: Brett Hood

Brett Hood — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:20:16 +0000

Ed
I have thought also that these Cleaner disks were a waste of time but maybe its worth a follow up. Just a quick question why do you use FLAC format for music files? I prefer all my music to be in MP3 format, whey copying or burning.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:57:56 +0000

Bill, in over 15 years of home built I have only warrantied one motherboard. If it runs for a few months its mine. If it dies after 2 -3 years its done me service time to upgrade.

By: Bill Wardino

Bill Wardino — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:38:18 +0000

Ray, I wouldn’t encourage anybody to clean players the way that you do. Besides warranty restrictions, it’s a good way to make a costly mistake, in my view.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:32:24 +0000

Been cleaning CD players and burners for years by tacking them out, pop the covers and gently wipe the lens or eyeball with a Q-tip. Cost $0.00. Over the years most of my drives came from thrift stores with that same problem.
Its called dust.

By: Bill Wardino

Bill Wardino — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:42:07 +0000

I hope this is placed in the correct area. I wanted to comment on the laser cleaner disk. Until now, I didn’t know such a cleaning tool existed, nor if I had, would I believe it to do the job successfully. This is great news, Ed.