Oblivion disc not reading

[Gariandos]

I'm a hundred percent sure this has been posted numerous times but I figured I'd post it myself. Three days ago, my computer just up and decided it wasn't going to read my Oblivion disc anymore, despite reading it perfectly fine prior to that. I've tried just about everything I could think of to get it to read. I can't port it to Steam because my modem decided to commit suicide, so I've got no internet for the foreseeable future.

[iXenite]

I'll assume you're using your phone to post here. It could be that the disc is old and just too worn. Or, your disc drive could be defective. Considering you have other things breaking, it may be safe to assume that could be the case. Perhaps go to a Geek Squad office and see if they can help? That is if you live in America. I'm not sure if they have Geek Squads elsewhere.

 

P.S. If you don't have the other Elder Scrolls games, or happen to missing one - you could just get a new disc by getting the Elder Scrolls Anthology which I believe comes with Steam Keys for Oblivion Deluxe Edition, Morrowing GOTY, and Skyrim Legendary Edition.

Edited September 15, 2014 by DaddyDirection

[ThatGuyYeah]

If you don't have the other Elder Scrolls games, or happen to missing one - you could just get a new disc by getting the Elder Scrolls Anthology which I believe comes with Steam Keys for Oblivion Deluxe Edition, Morrowing GOTY, and Skyrim Legendary Edition.

Can confirm, Once you put in the steam key it provides, your Steam will add those games to your library.

[Gariandos]

I have the Anthology collection. But again, without internet, I can't use the Steam key. Also, my drive can read every other disc I put into it. Oblivion is the only exception. Edited September 15, 2014 by Gariandos

[iXenite]

Could you screenshot what the issue is (if there is anything to screenshot) when you put in the Oblivion disc?

[Gariandos]

I cannot. I can't plug my phone into the computer because my phone's charger dock is broken. But to put it simply, my computer's drive won't even acknowledge the disc's existence.

[discovery1]

If the disc is badly scratched or dirty it can cause the reader to skip, same as a cd. First thing to try is another disc to see if that is recognised. If that works the try cleaning the disc with toothpaste or car paint work restorer, but not a coarse one for obvious reasons. if you lay the disc flat and clean and polish from the centre outwards not in circles.section by section until it sparkles. very often it is just the outer layer that is scratched and polishing that can help, it did for me, i still have the original morrowind discs working that have been renovated after some serious use over the years and load flawlessly.

[Gariandos]

There's not a single scratch on the disc. And I've tested numerous other discs in the drive and they still read properly.

[bben46]

It doesn't have to be a scratch - a discolored or stained place can prevent the disk from reading properly. There is a clear plastic coating over the actual surface where a laser has etched pits in the substrate to write the disk. - as long as that substrate is not damaged, cleaning and buffing the clear plastic so the laser reader in the drive can see the pits should work. The reader works by bouncing a laser beam off of the substrate and the pits cause a change from light to dark reflections. Then the reader part of the DVD drive reads those reflections. A sticky substance like a soft drink spill can damage the clear plastic and cause the beam to scatter - making it almost impossible to read. Wash the disk in warm water to remove any sticky coating Dishwashing soap can be used to clean too ( the water won't hurt it )

Don't put it in a dishwasher though as if it gets too hot it will warp the surface.

 

Then polish it with a very mild abrasive - toothpaste works Take your time and do a thorough buffing from ihe center to the outer edge. Don't buff around the disk, but across it. Here is a How to site for that http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-DVD