The data on a DVD is arranged in a spiral shaped track. Let me give you an idea of just how small. This laser beam and the information it must read are very small. The lens is supposed to keep the beam in focus at all times by varying the distance between the disk surface and itself. The beam is reflected off the disk and then passes through this lens when the drive is reading information. The penny on the bottom is provided for a size comparison.Ī laser beam is used to read the information on the disk.

The critical part that we’re concerned about is the little blue object inside the red circle. The photo on top is of a typical CD/DVD drive reading mechanism. Before we look at how to clean one, let’s take a look at why it’s so easy to mess one up in the first place. It takes a surprisingly small amount of dirt to cripple a CD or DVD drive. The problem is usually that the drive is just dirty. When it does happen it’s easy to assume the drive is broken. Have you ever slipped a CD or DVD into your computer or DVR drive only to get lots of noise but no action? I’m pretty sure this has happened to most of us.

In this article we talk about how they work and what to do to keep yours at its best. CD and DVD drives are high precision devices that need occasional maintenance to stay in top shape.