What is disc rot? How to check if your old DVDs and games have it

Although the convenience of streaming services has led to widespread replacement of DVDs and console gaming is moving away from physical discs, many people still have large DVD collections for movies or games. If this describes you, you might be afraid of finding gadgets that allow you to watch your DVDs. However, you also need to think about how you are going to protect your media from a problem called disk rot. Disk rot occurs when the physical layers that make up the optical disk begin to deteriorate, rendering the data stored on it unusable.

How do you know if one of your old DVDs has a rotten disc? If you look at the surface of the DVD, you may notice strange marks or damage. The optical disc may appear to have tiny holes or you may see cloudy, light-colored discoloration. Sometimes discoloration from deterioration looks like a darker, coffee-like stain. Some discs see their layers separate (called delamination).

In addition to exhibiting physical deterioration, DVDs suffering from rot often do not play properly. The movie or game may skip or freeze, if played. Of course, DVDs with heavy scratches, dirt and fingerprints on the surface layer may also skip intermittently. If you suspect the DVD is dirty instead of suffering from disc rot, clean it with a microfiber cloth and an even mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. If cleaning doesn’t solve the problem, rot may be a possibility.

With proper storage and handling, how long can you expect your DVD collection to last? Under ideal conditions, your DVDs should last 30 to 100 years. If you leave your DVDs exposed to contaminants, including excessively humid air or chemicals, you will increase the risk of noticing disc rot before you reach the 30-year mark. If DVDs are stored in areas subject to excessive heat, disc rot is also more likely to occur. Exposure to these types of harsh environmental conditions can cause the layers of the disc to separate, enhancing the effects of rot. Storing the disc in a suitable case and in an upright position can reduce the effects of these harsh conditions.

Some DVD formats are more susceptible to premature degradation and disc rot. If you’ve used mini-DVDs with a camcorder to record home movies, or if you’ve used writable DVD-Rs to back up data, the dyes used in manufacturing these discs could cause them to rot faster than expected.

Another way to determine if you have DVDs that may be suffering from rot is to look for listings regarding manufacturing issues. For example, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment admitted last year that most of the records it made between 2006 and 2008 were in danger of rotting (if they hadn’t already). Warner Bros. offered to replace the affected discs, but some titles are no longer available.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for disc rot on your DVDs once you notice it happening. Using cleaning techniques or polishing the DVD surface will not repair disc rot. DVDs are made of several layers of plastic, as well as a reflective layer of aluminum or gold. Since rot occurs in individual layers, cleaning the surface does not solve the problem.

If you are worried about disc rot, the best step is to make a digital copy of the data on the DVD as soon as possible. Many companies convert DVDs for a fee. Some conversion companies even specialize in working with DVDs showing signs of disc rot. They may not be able to recover all the data from the disk, but they can scan it and keep at least some of it. You can also turn your DVDs into a makeshift streaming service before they suffer disc rot by using software to digitally rip the media and store the copy on a hard drive. Some DVDs you purchase may automatically include a digital copy that you can continue to access if you experience disc rot.

The good news is that the rot does not migrate from one disk to another. However, if one of your DVDs is rotten, others may be exposed to the same harsh conditions in their current location, meaning you need to take steps to protect them.