how to fix a dvd that skips and freezes

(Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brimelow/ )

Whether using a portable DVD player or an in-car entertainment system, movies are a great way to keep kids entertained during a long trip. The trouble begins when a favorite movie becomes non-functional or starts to skip. The peace and silence you desire when driving are now threatened, but the problem can be fixed with the right materials.

Step 1

Take the nearest exit with a convenient store. Purchase a small bottle of rubbing alcohol and a soft, lint-free cloth, such as an eyeglass cleaning cloth.

Step 2

Eject the DVD from the player. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the cloth and wipe the DVD from the center to the edge in a straight motion. Do not wipe the DVD in a circular motion.

Step 3

Wait a few minutes for the DVD to dry. Reinsert it into the player to test it. If the disc was the problem, the DVD will play fine. If the disc is still skipping, try softly blowing into the player's disc feed. Dust particles can accumulate over the lens, causing it to skip.

References

Tips

If rubbing alcohol is not available, grab a bottle of distilled water. Tap water contains a high concentration of salt that can make the problem worse.
If a lint-free cloth is not available, use a clean, white cotton T-shirt.

Warnings

Strong solvents can harm the polycarbonate coating of a DVD. Never use anything stronger than rubbing alcohol.

Writer Bio

Leonardo R. Grabkowski has been writing professionally for more than four years. Grabkowski attended college in Oregon. He builds websites on the side and has a slight obsession with Drupal, Joomla and Wordpress.