How to Fix a Bent CD

CDs can bend and warp from being exposed to heat.

Both CDs and DVDs can bend and warp from being exposed to heat and by being stored improperly in a wallet. Crowding or jamming CDs into a CD wallet can bend the CDs out of shape, cracking them, losing data and possibly damaging or getting stuck in your computer's CD drive. Fix your bent CD to prevent data loss and computer damage.

Things You'll Need

• Clean microfiber cloth
• CD cleaning solution
• Warm water
• Self-sealing plastic bag
• Bowl
• 2 pieces of glass
• Heavy books, at least 10 lbs.

Instructions

1. Clean your CD with a microfiber cloth and CD cleaning solution, rubbing it gently from the middle hole to the outer edges. Dry it thoroughly.

2. Place the CD in a self-sealing plastic bag and then into a bowl of water that is about 100 degrees. Leave it in the water for about an hour. Remove the CD and plastic bag from the bowl of water and the CD from the plastic bag. Gently flatten the CD on a level surface.

3. Place the CD in between two pieces of glass or wrap it in a microfiber cloth to prevent scratching it if the CD is still not as flat as you want it.

4. Put 10 lbs. of books directly on top of the CD, and leave them this way for two to three days.

5. Remove the books and check for flatness and cracks in the CD.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a backup copy of your bent CD in case the problem gets worse and you lose data on the disc.

• Examine the CD for cracks, and do not try to unbend it or use it if there are cracks. A cracked CD can fly apart and get stuck in your CD drive, damaging both the CD and the disc drive.

• Do not heat up the CD in a microwave oven. It will damage both the microwave oven and CD.

References

• Cyber Grass: Warped CDs
• Polk Audio: Fixing Warped DVDs