[PADG:908] Re: Mechanical Damage to DVDs

[Ann Duncan-Gibbs <a-gibbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There is a known flaw in Microsoft's Xbox products that causes the 
scractches described in the earlier message.  It was referred to as 
the, "Ring of disc death"  and Xbox annoyance #8.  There is also a 
picture of the 
scratches. 
http://www.joystiq.com/2005/12/07/ring-of-disc-death-xbox-360-annoyance-008/

Here is a reference from 
cnn.com.  http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2002/fyi/news/04/10/japan.xbox/

A lot of the information out there does seem anecdotal, but one 
person claimed to be able to duplicate the problem 
consistently.  Evidentally the problem occurs when the Xbox is moved 
while the disc is in motion, either by physically moving the machine 
itself or by vibration in the environment around it (i.e. people 
running by, bouncing on the furniture, demolition sites nearby :> 
).    I would imagine most dorms would have a lot of activity that 
might exacerbate the problem.

Ann Duncan-Gibbs
Preservation Dept.
Northwestern University Library




> I have a question from one of our residence hall libraries about a
> circulating DVD collection (appended below). Apparently, they are receiving
>
> many returned with very deep circular scratches that frequently render the
> discs unreadable. They are speculating that students are using their gaming
>
> systems to play the discs, rather than a conventional DVD player. Has
> anyone heard of similar problems with their collections?
>
> Tom
>
> -----
> I'm wondering if you encounter DVDs with deep, circular scratches.  It's
> become quite a problem for us, sometimes a DVD is rendered totally
> unuseable
> after only one check-out.  Clearly the scratches are not the result of
> being
> dropped or tossed into a backpack because of the totally symmetrical
> patterns.  The scratches are too deep to be cleaned.
>
> I've asked [others] who have their own DVD collections, but no one seems to
>
> have this problem but
> me.  I'm wondering if it is the result of people using their gamestations
> to
> play DVDs, as I know they can be harsher on  DVDs than CD-ROMS.  Apparently
> CD-ROMS have a thicker chemical coating than makes them not as fragile as
> DVDs, according to some websites I've read.
>
>
>
>
> Head of Preservation and Assistant Professor,
>          John "Bud" Velde Endowed Professorship
> University Library
> 246F Main Library
> University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
> 1408 West Gregory Drive
> Urbana, IL      61801
>
> Telephone:      217-244-8755
> Fax:            217-244-4358