PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Cleaning a CD-ROM Drive

The first symptom of a dirty drive is that you get read errors on a data CD or degraded sound from a music CD. If this happens, it is often because the CD itself is dirty or scratched, so try a different CD before assuming the drive is at fault. In theory, CD-ROM drives require little cleaning. They are reasonably well sealed against dust, and all recent drives incorporate a self-cleaning lens mechanism. That said, the fact is that CD-ROM drives accumulate dust and grime internally just like any other removable media drive. Caddy-load drives are less subject to this problem than tray-load drives, but all drives eventually become dirty.

For routine cleaning, simply wipe the external parts of the drive occasionally with a damp cloth. Many drive makers recommend using a drive cleaning kit every month or two, although we usually do so only when we begin getting read errors. To use these kits, which are available in wet and dry forms, simply insert the cleaning disc and access the drive to spin the cleaning disc for a few seconds. For a particularly dirty drive, you may need to repeat the cleaning process several times. Most CD-ROM drive manufacturers discourage taking more extreme measures, so if you go beyond these routine cleaning steps, you are on your own and may void your warranty.

Caddy-load drives can be cleaned more thoroughly by removing the drive from the chassis, vacuuming the interior gently (or using compressed air to blow it out), and then drenching ...