Cleaning a slot-style CD drive?

[Echo 7-7]

Any tips or suggestions on how to clean my laptop's CD slot drive? I know the felt pads on the inside of the slot are supposed to prevent anything from getting inside, but I'm convinced that something has worked its way in there, since a couple of CDs that I ejected recently have come out scratched, including a brand new DVD that started skipping almost as soon as I played it.

The most relevant article I found from a quick google search was this, but I'm not sure if this would work to dislodge whatever particle is caught inside.

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There was a sig here, once.

[Mímir]

You used to be able to get a special type cd with a sturdy little polyester brush on it that could clean the lens. Don't know how much good they do, though.

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[SMGSterlin]

His problem isn't the lens being dirty and not reading the disc though, so a lens cleaning disc won't help much I think.

That link has about the easiest sounding solution I think... If your laptop's disc drive is like mine, then on the top where you place the CD there should be a little open spot where the lens is that moves back and forth, you might try looking in there first and using a can of air or a vacuum to remove anything that could be scratching the disc in there.

Other than that, I would only think of completely taking apart the laptop as a way to get in there.

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[Anomander]

To clean just an lens on inside You could use an CD-cleaner disk (pic-below):


Cleaning from dust and turnings / filings You could use a vacuum-cleaner
or compressor (personally I clean / blow dust my PC by compressor)

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[Tenacity]

Not a good idea to use a compressor, get canned air. Compressors dont filter out dust or humidity in the air, and can cause damage to computer components.

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[Echo 7-7]

Thanks for the tips everyone - first stop will be to try using a vacuum cleaner, then throw in a sacrificial disk to see if it's clear or not.

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There was a sig here, once.