Disc rot: Difference between revisions
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[[wikipedia:Disc_rot|Disc rot]] is an event which happens when the materials that compose a compact disc (CD) or equivalent optical storage medium degrade. Often, disc rot occurs whenever companies are neglectful with how their discs are manufactured. Disc rot's existence has been aware of by manufacturers as early as 1988<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takiff |first=Jonathan |title=Compact Discs Still Being Perfected |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-cd-corrosion/8722352/ |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=Newspapers.com |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251007083915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-cd-corrosion/8722352/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> and continues to prevail to this day.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=6 Feb 2017 |title=The Hidden Phenomenon That Could Ruin Your Old Discs |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-hidden-phenomenon-that-could-ruin-your-old-discs/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=Vice | [[wikipedia:Disc_rot|Disc rot]] is an event which happens when the materials that compose a compact disc (CD) or equivalent optical storage medium degrade. Often, disc rot occurs whenever companies are neglectful with how their discs are manufactured. Disc rot's existence has been aware of by manufacturers as early as 1988<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takiff |first=Jonathan |title=Compact Discs Still Being Perfected |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-cd-corrosion/8722352/ |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=Newspapers.com |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251007083915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-cd-corrosion/8722352/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref> and continues to prevail to this day.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=6 Feb 2017 |title=The Hidden Phenomenon That Could Ruin Your Old Discs |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-hidden-phenomenon-that-could-ruin-your-old-discs/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=Vice |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113195153/https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-hidden-phenomenon-that-could-ruin-your-old-discs/ |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref> | ||
Disc rot is not directly intentional from manufacturers, and is considered a case of neglect from manufacturers by most communities. Despite this, there are some formats, such as DVD-D, which are intentionally manufactured for the [[Planned obsolescence|purpose of degradation]], which exhibit traits that can be related to disc rot. | Disc rot is not directly intentional from manufacturers, and is considered a case of neglect from manufacturers by most communities. Despite this, there are some formats, such as DVD-D, which are intentionally manufactured for the [[Planned obsolescence|purpose of degradation]], which exhibit traits that can be related to disc rot. | ||
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====Oxidation==== | ====Oxidation==== | ||
Often seen on aluminum-based discs, if they are exposed to the atmosphere for a prolonged period of time, the disc can begin to rot. This can additionally happen despite the media being factory-sealed.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lampson |first=L. David |date=Sep 1995 |title=CD Bronzing |url=http://www.classical.net/music/guide/society/krs/excerpt3.php |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=Classical.net | Often seen on aluminum-based discs, if they are exposed to the atmosphere for a prolonged period of time, the disc can begin to rot. This can additionally happen despite the media being factory-sealed.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lampson |first=L. David |date=Sep 1995 |title=CD Bronzing |url=http://www.classical.net/music/guide/society/krs/excerpt3.php |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=Classical.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114025837/http://www.classical.net/music/guide/society/krs/excerpt3.php |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref> Lacquer or plastic layers are often used to block oxidation, but other factors some of which are listed here can damage this protective layer. | ||
====Humidity==== | ====Humidity==== | ||
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===Pinholes=== | ===Pinholes=== | ||
Small holes on the disc that can sacrifice the integrity of the data on the disc,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bishop |first=Tom |date=27 Aug 2004 |title=Is music safe on compact disc? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3940669.stm |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=BBC | Small holes on the disc that can sacrifice the integrity of the data on the disc,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bishop |first=Tom |date=27 Aug 2004 |title=Is music safe on compact disc? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3940669.stm |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=BBC |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250709143620/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3940669.stm |archive-date=9 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=2 Feb 2017 |title=When Discs Die |url=https://tedium.co/2017/02/02/disc-rot-phenomenon/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=Tedium. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114193359/https://tedium.co/2017/02/02/disc-rot-phenomenon/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref> these can be made more visible if you shine a strong light on your disc. | ||
===Bronzing=== | ===Bronzing=== | ||
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==Why it is a problem== | ==Why it is a problem== | ||
'''Preservation:''' Optical media is currently the most common medium that media is physically distributed on. When the media it is for goes out of print and additionally is no-longer digitally distributed, these discs are the only way for the public to access this media. Physical discs are also how most digital media is accessed by public libraries, which many consumers continue to rely upon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Apr 2010 |title=An important note to Video Game Sellers and Buyers |url=https://www.rfgeneration.com/news/Disc-Rot/An-important-note-to-Video-Game-Sellers-and-Buyers-1337.php |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=RF Generation | '''Preservation:''' Optical media is currently the most common medium that media is physically distributed on. When the media it is for goes out of print and additionally is no-longer digitally distributed, these discs are the only way for the public to access this media. Physical discs are also how most digital media is accessed by public libraries, which many consumers continue to rely upon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Apr 2010 |title=An important note to Video Game Sellers and Buyers |url=https://www.rfgeneration.com/news/Disc-Rot/An-important-note-to-Video-Game-Sellers-and-Buyers-1337.php |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=RF Generation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231134235/https://www.rfgeneration.com/news/Disc-Rot/An-important-note-to-Video-Game-Sellers-and-Buyers-1337.php |archive-date=31 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> | ||
'''Accessibility:''' Many consumers purchase physical media with the intent that they can have prolonged access to the content that they paid for. If the disc they buy happens to have been poorly-manufactured, consumers may have a limited and ambiguous time before they cannot consume the media they purchased anymore. | '''Accessibility:''' Many consumers purchase physical media with the intent that they can have prolonged access to the content that they paid for. If the disc they buy happens to have been poorly-manufactured, consumers may have a limited and ambiguous time before they cannot consume the media they purchased anymore. | ||
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===Nintendo Wii U=== | ===Nintendo Wii U=== | ||
Consumers have reported that the discs that they purchased for their Wii U consoles are experiencing rot,<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2020 |title=Are all Wii U physical discs doomed? |url=https://forums.atariage.com/topic/306522-are-all-wii-u-physical-discs-doomed/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=AtariAge | Consumers have reported that the discs that they purchased for their Wii U consoles are experiencing rot,<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2020 |title=Are all Wii U physical discs doomed? |url=https://forums.atariage.com/topic/306522-are-all-wii-u-physical-discs-doomed/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=AtariAge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251007083956/https://forums.atariage.com/topic/306522-are-all-wii-u-physical-discs-doomed/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@Camgames |date=26 Jan 2025 |title=The Wii U Has a Massive Problem |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlVrhF7DYbg |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=MlVrhF7DYbg |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> and in some scenarios, degrading on a large scale in individual collections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All these games in my collection are dead from disc rot |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/wiiu/comments/15t0i84/all_these_games_in_my_collection_are_dead_from/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Mar 2023 |title=Wii U discs have a high failure rate? |url=https://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-discs-have-a-high-failure-rate.628470/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=GBATEMP |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250323030443/https://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-discs-have-a-high-failure-rate.628470/ |archive-date=23 Mar 2025}}</ref> Often, the degradation is described as pinholes scattered across the disc. [Example picture to be added]<!-- Read this post, and decide which pic is best to use as an example in this section! | ||
https://www.reddit.com/r/wiiu/comments/15tha7u/disc_rotspots_is_real/ --> | https://www.reddit.com/r/wiiu/comments/15tha7u/disc_rotspots_is_real/ --> | ||
===Warner DVDs=== | ===Warner DVDs=== | ||
It has been reported that DVDs manufactured from 2006-08 have been rotting away,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bumbray |first=Chris |date=8 Mar 2025 |title=Hundreds of your Warner Bros DVDs probably don’t work anymore; UPDATED with response from WB |url=https://www.joblo.com/warner-bros-dvds-dont-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=JoBlo | It has been reported that DVDs manufactured from 2006-08 have been rotting away,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bumbray |first=Chris |date=8 Mar 2025 |title=Hundreds of your Warner Bros DVDs probably don’t work anymore; UPDATED with response from WB |url=https://www.joblo.com/warner-bros-dvds-dont-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=JoBlo |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230165506/https://www.joblo.com/warner-bros-dvds-dont-work/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref> especially ones stored in their own cases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Sharon |date=7 Mar 2025 |title=“They curdle like milk”: WB DVDs from 2006–2008 are rotting away in their cases |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/they-curdle-like-milk-wb-dvds-from-2006-2008-are-rotting-away-in-their-cases/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260109124950/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/they-curdle-like-milk-wb-dvds-from-2006-2008-are-rotting-away-in-their-cases/ |archive-date=9 Jan 2026}}</ref> Unlike most distributors, Warner has been offering replacements for these degraded discs for consumers.<ref>https://www.avclub.com/warner-bros-replacing-disc-rot-dvd ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251216220601/https://www.avclub.com/warner-bros-replacing-disc-rot-dvd Archived])</ref> Toshiba HD DVDs made by Warner were also reported as having disc rot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/hd-dvds-any-help-please.379100/|title=HD DVD's Any help please!|work=Home Theater Forum|date=2023-04-11|access-date=2025-03-12|author=Sega |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251007084425/https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/hd-dvds-any-help-please.379100/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/HDDVD/comments/sm7bom/my_experience_with_disc_rot/|title=My experience with disc rot : r/HDDVD|author=u/TheFiZi|date=2022-02-06|work=Reddit|archive-url=https://archive.ph/YRvwA|archive-date=2025-03-12|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- I wonder if they would replace UMDs... --> | ||
===Sega consoles=== | ===Sega consoles=== | ||