| When your CD or DVD (disc) drive starts giving you | | | | is to rub the wet cloth on the lens to clean it. Do not |
| problems, your first thought may be to replace it or | | | | apply so much pressure that you will scratch and ruin |
| take it to the repair shop, but a good cleaning may be | | | | the lens. Also try blowing into the disc drive to remove |
| all it needs. | | | | any dirt that may have accumulated in it. If you do not |
| Below are three methods to clean the disc drive. The | | | | succeed at this, proceed to the next method. |
| easiest method is the least effective. The hardest | | | | The Disassembly method - this method should work |
| method is the most effective. Since the hardest | | | | but it requires you to disassemble the drive. So if you |
| method takes some time to do, I recommend that you | | | | are not comfortable with taking the drive apart, please |
| start with the easiest method. If it solves your | | | | take it to a computer repair shop and let them do it. |
| problems, congratulations. If not, try the next method. | | | | Take the cover off your computer, unplug the cords |
| The Cleaner Disc method - this, the easiest method, | | | | from the back of the disc drive, remove any screws |
| uses a special cleaner disc which can be purchased in | | | | holding it in, and slide it out (you may need to remove |
| computer stores. The disc usually comes with a little | | | | the face plate on the end of the drawer to get the |
| bottle of cleaner solution. Apply a few drops of the | | | | drive out). Remove the screws in the drive housing |
| solution to the disc and insert it in the disc drawer (be | | | | and take the cover off. The bottom side of the drive is |
| sure to read and follow the instructions that come with | | | | a circuit board, so if that is what you see when you |
| the cleaner disc). The drive will turn the disc and clean | | | | take the cover off, figure out how to access the other |
| the lens. Unfortunately, this only works adequately | | | | side. On the correct side, you should see a lens that |
| about half the time. | | | | runs on a track (there is no harm in moving the lens |
| The Cleaning Stick method - this is what I do in | | | | along the track but do not touch the lens itself). Use a |
| desperation when the cleaner disc does not work and | | | | wet, soft cloth to clean the lens. |
| I don't want to disassemble the drive. Since all that is | | | | Sometimes a disc drive malfunctions because there is |
| needed (at least in my mind this is true) is a little more | | | | too much dust or debris in it, so be sure to clean out |
| pressure applied to the lens, I start out in search of a | | | | the inside with either compressed air, a soft cloth, or a |
| thin, flexible stick of some type which is at least six | | | | cotton swab. Reassemble the disc drive, put it back in |
| inches long. It should not have sharp or rough edges | | | | the computer case, and cross your fingers. Hopefully, it |
| that would scratch the lens. Next, get a soft, thin cloth | | | | will work when you turn on the computer. |
| and put water or rubbing alcohol in the middle of it. | | | | If these methods work, you just saved yourself some |
| Place one end of the stick under the wet part of the | | | | money. If not, you needed a better disc drive anyway. |
| cloth and slide it into the opened disc drawer. The goal | | | | |