Cleaning DVD burner laserlens or not?

Aje wrote on 4/18/2009, 5:43 AM

Have searched both here and in DVDA on this subject with no luck.
There are writercleaning discs on the market - are they any good?
I´ve burned at least 5oo discs on each of my 2 extern burners without
problems but would like to do anything profylactic that can make my burners last longer.
I know its cheap to buy new ones but its hard to find those which can alter booktype as my burners can.
Anyone who use lenscleaningdiscs - and if so which brand?
/Aje

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 4/18/2009, 5:57 AM

They can damage the lens irreparably. I'd say the only time to use one is if you know the lens is so dirty that you can't reliably read/write a disc anyway. It would be a last-ditch effort to save a drive that you might have to throw away anyway.

UlfLaursen wrote on 4/18/2009, 6:20 AM

Hi

I have until now burned a lot of discs every year (last year I burned aprox 8-1000 discs) on 3-4 different PC's so it adds up over the years. I have until now not had a burner that went mad and was worn out so to say.

I understand your concern though, but have no answer. When I burn a batch, I take a few out in the start, and the end and test them. I play them for some sec. and then 'FF' then through the whole disc. This is a self made test, not sure it is official, but it works for me so far :-)

Drives today cost $40 so there is not much you can do into maintenance for this money :-)

/Ulf