How to recover data from an optical disk

Small knowledge you should know about optical disk: The optical disk could be classified into many types, like CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and CD-RW, DVD-RAM, the former can’t be erased but the latter could.

There are different cases of data loss on the optical disk.

1. Scratch on the optical disk;

2. Optical disk got cracked;

3. Optical disc’s contents can not be read after a long term storage;

4. Optical disk got formatted;

5. Optical disc got damaged.

And there are various means for data recovery from an optical disk.

1. The optical disk don’t play smoothly or have no reaction after implanted to the device caused by the scratch. You can wipe it using the special fabric or water, or rub the central circle on the optical disk by toothpaste if there are only some slight scratches. Do not use the ordinary water or tissue, or it will hurt the disk’s surface.  

2. You have to buy a new one if the optical disk got cracked.

3. If the optical disk’s contents can’t be read after a long term storage, you could try some data recovery software for restoration. As the optical disk could be saved for decades or more theoretically, and it could be damaged just by wrong store patterns.

4. There are two different situations for formatted optical disk.

Neither failure on the optical disk nor formatted optical disk by mistake, if it is a erasable one, data restoration by yourself seems like pie in the sky.

If the optical disk can’t be erased, you can use a data recovery software to recover the missing data caused by formatting or (not hardware) reasons.  

PS: Here are some tips for you.

1. Don’t do any operation to your storage device if it got data loss, as writing data casually or running program could type in new data, and it will enhance difficulty of data recovery, not only the messy code or files unreadable, but also result in second-damage of data in the serious situation.

2. Use a professional data recovery software for data restoration, as the mountain fatness one may arouse more serious data loss.

Pay attention to the maintenance of optical disk, put it in the special box during its idle time, and too high or low temperature is disadvantage to the optical disk, for its suitable temperature is about 20°.