Old computer DVD Question I forgot the answer to.

[Mikey]

I asked this question a few years ago, but I forgot what the general consensus answer was .......

If you watch and burn movies on your computer, like a DVD player, your burner/player should eventually need a cleaning.

Can a disc cleaner be run in a computer DVD player/burner drive ?

Thanks

[cjefferys]

I personally don't worry about it unless there is an actual problem. The DVD burner on my old computer has seen a lot of use for nearly five years, it still works fine, and I've never cleaned it (the computer it's in, on the other hand, has the dust cleaned out of it sometimes). I also have a couple old DVD players that have never had a cleaning and work fine.

I don't think they are the same as VCRs, where there was actual physical contact between the tape and video head (there is no such kind of contact in a DVD player). VCRs definitely benefited from a regular cleaning, but I leave DVD players alone unless something is wrong.

I worry more about cleaning any electronic item that has a fan (computer, stand alone DVD recorders, Blu-ray players, some types of TVs, etc). It's a good thing to keep the fans clear of dust, so that they work efficiently and prevent overheating.

[Mikey]

I open up my tower and blow it out about once a year.
It really don't collect as much dust as you'd imagine.

[fallensaviour]

I've had a DVD player for over 5 years and it plays great,never been cleaned.
I've had a DVD/burner for over 5 years never cleaned runs great.
The thing about burners/DVD players is they Will only burn DVDs for so long then crap out no more burning(100-200 maybe more) but will play DVDs for ever

As for my tower I blow it out every two months and the dust does pill up like you would not believe.Just depends where you have it and what your surroundings are.I live near a very,very busy street.Lots of dust especially when the window is open,my tower acts like a dust magnet.

[cjefferys]

The thing about burners/DVD players is they Will only burn DVDs for so long then crap out no more burning(100-200 maybe more) but will play DVDs for ever

It depends on the brand too. My old computer's burner is a Pioneer and that thing is a tank. I've probably burned a couple thousand discs with it and it still burns discs flawlessly. I highly recommend Pioneers.

And yeah, the amount of dust in computers depends on several factors. Mine always get very dusty inside, so I really have to keep up on opening them up and blowing the dust out. Otherwise I get literal dust bunnies inside them.

[mitchedwards]

Blowing the dust out is about all you should need to do