#bluray can do this much much better as it utilizes layers of data and different lasers

[moki-dokie]

for all the people in the notes like OMG DONT RUB IT LIKE THAT:

yes, you can. it's perfectly fine. in fact you can grind many many MANY micro layers off and its fine. there are CD polishing machines that do exactly this to restore hella scratched discs to a playable state. that used to be part of my job many years ago!

the data is VERY protected, which is part of why CDs (all disc formats, tbh) are such a damn good method of physical storage. you really have to gouge the plastic to truly ruin it - and there's still a good chance a specialist could repair it well enough to recover. tbh all you'd need to do is fill in the scratch with an equally clear material and polish it - so long as it didn't go all the way down to the data layer, that is. but anyway.

it literally does not matter which direction you rub it in because you're putting microscratches on it regardless when you use anything other than a polishing cloth/pad. and any scratch that disrupts the laser's ability to pass through and read the data is going to cause problems, doesn't matter which direction. those of you thinking that you have to do it in a circular motion are thinking of vinyls, where the data is recorded straight onto the surface. in which case, yes, you clean those using a specialized pad in a circular motion. But data discs are not like that, their data hides under a very sturdy and thick layer of plastic. honestly, you risk damaging the data more by scratching the label side. Still a bit tough to do, since label prints are typically rather thick - but i lost way more CDs in the day to that than ever scratching the readable side.

the plastic is polycarbonate, which isn't like diamond strength or anything - but i dare you to go grab an old CD you don't care about and see how long it takes you to scratch deep enough to reach the metal layer with just an ordinary scratchy object. you'll be at it for a little while unless you're like taking a fucking chisel to it.

If you know, you know.