is this a disk rot problem?

[kenshin-dono]

i was going through some stuff i got from ebay. I had fallen behind on checking disks/games since i had a cousin visiting for about a month. Anyway one i got about a month ago looks kinda screwed up now that i looked at it. I did my standard cleaning on the disk, and noticed that the label was messed up on this one. The read surface is actually pretty good, but the label has a big chunk taken out of it.

i remember hearing that any damage to the label can lead to serious disk rot problems, should i try to get my money back? If so i gotta move fast.. i think paypal is 45 days or so, its already been over 30, i think i recieved it on about 5/26

i held it up to a light and didn't see any light shining through but there is no label at all on the top part. i took a few pics

http://home.comcast.net/~kenshindono/junk/disccover.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~kenshindono/ju ... cover2.jpg

*edit* it was actually 5-19 that it arrived.. so i may be screwed regardless

so is this a problem, or should i just keep it? Like i said if it is a problem i better try to get a refund through payapal asap.. it may be too late already. Anyone know how long you have? from date received?

[Xonticus]

I haven't had much experience with "Disc rot" but working at a game store with a resurfacing machine, I can tell you that if the data part on the label side is gone, then that is missing data.

Hold it up to a decent source of light, if you can see right through the label there, then it's gone. It was sometimes forgivable on some of the older CD games of past because there wasn't as big of a chance that much important data was missing, but with higher compression comes higher risks.

[MrPopo]

Looking at that, that's mighty impressive that it only managed to damage the disc, and not the foil. Since you can't see light shining through (and based on the picture it looks intact) you will be fine for now, but the foil is now exposed and can quite easily get damaged, even by the humidity in your house. If you can get a refund you should.

[Hobie-wan]

If it's simply the paint for the label that's come up, then it will be fine. If the aluminum layer is exposed, then it will oxidize and 'rot'.

[forsigmar]

Probably somebody being overally aggressive cleaning a label off. I have damaged a few discs that way.

[CRTGAMER]

If it's simply the paint for the label that's come up, then it will be fine. If the aluminum layer is exposed, then it will oxidize and 'rot'.

Agree, probably got scratched off. Trick is protecting that exposed aluminum layer. Any attempt to coat it will present a balance issue. Maybe best to keep in climate controlled room and in a case when not in use.

Disk Rot is very rare on current single sided CD and DVD discs. More prevalent on Laser Discs due to two sides being glued together. Sometimes a minute amount of coolant or the moisture in that glue would corrode the aluminum coating from the inside.

The fragile side as you can see in the pic is the label side, only a thin layer of paint protecting the data.

EDIT
You just showed me something. Suspected underneath that black PS1 bottom was a silver disc.
In fact that almost looks like primer, is it shiny aluminum?

[kenshin-dono]

hmm so is the layer thats exposed vurnerable or not? Some sugest it might oxidise or get screwed up. Obviously i cant cover it with anything because it will unbalance the disk. Im actually more concerned about just putting it in the ps1 and having more flake off and gunk up my system. I did test the game briefly and it seems to run fine. It really is a shame because the read side is in very good condition with just a few tiny hairlines on it =(

@CRT gamer im not sure what its made out of. It is quite shiney though. It will reflect whatever i pass over it it seems, but no light passes through and i cant see it if i lay it over the lamp looking at the read side

I am SOL as far as returning it. Its been past the 45 days

I guess i should look for a replacement? I would love to keep this but im concerned it will keep deteriorating. Im not even sure what that layer is made of

I really cant imagine how that happened. Maybe someone went crazy cleaning it like forsigmar says. it was like that when i got it. I usually either clean games with a microfiber cloth and some windex, then a deperate cloth and some alcohol, or run them under warm water with some mild liquid soap. In this case i did the later

[Hobie-wan]

Do you have Nero installed? You could launch CD-DVD speed and run the test on the 'scan disc' tab. If you get a bunch of yellow or red sectors in the middle then it might be ok. I'm pretty sure I have a disc somewhere in my collection that I got used that has a place where the printed label got peeled up but the disc is ok. There's still a thin later of plastic on top of the aluminum that the paint sits on top of. Maybe something stuck to the disc and the paint was just not so great in that spot.

[CRTGAMER]

@CRT gamer im not sure what its made out of. It is quite shiney though. It will reflect whatever i pass over it it seems, but no light passes through and i cant see it if i lay it over the lamp looking at the read side

I really cant imagine how that happened. Maybe someone went crazy cleaning it like forsigmar says. it was like that when i got it. I usually either clean games with a microfiber cloth and some windex, then a deperate cloth and some alcohol, or run them under warm water with some mild liquid soap. In this case i did the later

That shine is very likely the aluminum reflective surface data track. I would not touch it.

I price checked at Amazon, hey it is pricey! Might burn a backup while you can.
http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Legaia-Pla ... B00000IM2T

[Limewater]

It's also worth mentioning that a disk-based game might boot up and run fine, and then not fail until you get halfway through the game or something.