Cleaning the Lens

T34P075 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-29-2008, 10:15 AM

I've been having a lot of trouble with my Wii not reading backup discs, and I've heard one solution it to clean the lens (another being to try new media, which I plan on doing). How would I go about this?

Also, I've been using CompUSA brand DVDs that I got cheap a year ago. I assume these are poor quality?

sdub90 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-29-2008, 11:41 AM

It's the discs, but if you want to clean the lens anyway, use rubbing alcohol on a q-tip, open up the system and find the lens and give it a quick rub

Dark Mod · #3 (**permalink**) 11-30-2008, 09:26 AM

I'll highly recommend not to use rubbing alcohol to clean your lens, just use the Qtip dry as is, in a circular motion, clean the lens and very gently, blow the dust away and that is it.

kaesar · #4 (**permalink**) 11-30-2008, 11:21 AM

Please, listen to Dark Mod! Do not use any kind of alcohol! The lens is cleaned easily using the method he described.
Not touching the tip with fingers is also a good practice.

Plain 96% alcohol affects the plastic of the lens, other types of alcohol have additives
that deposit a thin film on the lens and it will be worse than before.

sdub90 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-30-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaesar

Plain 96% alcohol affects the plastic of the lens, other types of alcohol have additives
that deposit a thin film on the lens and it will be worse than before.

Really? never heard of that and never had a problem, thanks though!

T34P075 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-30-2008, 12:44 PM

Thanks for the replies; I'll try changing the media before ripping the console apart first, but might go for the Q-tip anyway.

T34P075 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 03:21 PM

Just wanted to post an update:

I tried some RIDATA disks from work, and...it's AMAZING. Backups load 100% of the time, the drive doesn't do that nasty clicking anymore, etc. Highly recommend these to anyone having issues with their drive not reading.

exe123 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaesar

Plain 96% alcohol affects the plastic of the lens, other types of alcohol have additives
that deposit a thin film on the lens and it will be worse than before.

Right but I use some cleaner which I also use for my glasses. Just dry q-tip is not good. You can make very thin scratches with the dust. Also if you get optical devices from heavy smokers you will have a nice film of nicotine. It is easier with some cleaner...

Dark Mod · #9 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exe123

Right but I use some cleaner which I also use for my glasses. Just dry q-tip is not good. You can make very thin scratches with the dust. Also if you get optical devices from heavy smokers you will have a nice film of nicotine. It is easier with some cleaner...

What makes you so sure that it will scratch the lens bro.....the lens have a thin protective coating to prevent scratches from happening, adding any chemicals to a lens can remove the coating or ends up inside the coils in the laser itself.

exe123 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 04:04 PM

yes if you use aggressiv chemicals. glasses also have coating for scratches, reflections, etc. it also not remove the coating. never had problems with this. we also used it in some cd/dvd drive manufacturer repair service.