How to Recover Data from DVD & DVD-RW, CD, CD-RW

Eleanor Reed

Jun 08, 2026 • Filed to: SD Card Solutions • Proven solutions

TL;DR:

To recover data from an unreadable CD or DVD, you can manually repair physical surface scratches or use recovery software to restore lost disc backups from a secondary storage device.
    ● Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery cannot extract files directly from CDs or DVDs; it only retrieves lost disc backups previously saved on a PC, hard drive, USB, or memory card.
    ● If a scratched disc remains undetected by the CD-ROM or DVD drive, apply a thin layer of toothpaste or Vaseline and wipe it with a clean, soft cloth before reinserting it.
    ● When using Recoverit on Windows or Mac to find lost backups, perform a standard scan on the backup storage location and utilize the Deep Scan feature if the initial search fails.

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How to recover data from CD-RW? Or how to recover deleted files from DVD, CD, and DVD-RW? On this page, we will show you the best way to retrieve all data files from CD or DVD. We will introduce some useful tips for you, it can easily and effectively to help you get all data or deleted files back.

Part 1. Check about Corrupted or Scratched CD/DVD

When DVD or CD disc is not playing on a DVD player or computer, there's a method that you can try first. That is to manually check the detail of your CD or DVD. In this way, you are able to figure out the exact problem of your disc, then make it possible to get back data.

📊 Optical Disc Triage Matrix: Physical Damage vs. Logical Fixes

Before attempting programmatic file extraction, inspect the structural integrity of your CD or DVD using this diagnostic chart:

1. First, use a clean and dry cloth to clean the dust of CD or DVD disc.
2. Second, try to insert the CD or DVD into the DVD player or computer CD-ROM. This aims to check if the disc is accessible. If it's still available, then copy the saved data from your CD or DVD. If not, then check the surface of the unreadable or scratched CD or DVD in detail.
3. Third, manually repair scratched CD or DVD that is not detected. Cover the CD or DVD with a thin layer of toothpaste, Vaseline. Then wipe the disc inside and outside with a clean and soft cloth. After that, try it again if the CD or DVD is accessible.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Manual Optical Disc Scratch Repair

If your drive recognizes the disc but freezes during file transfers due to surface abrasions, you can use a micro-abrasive polishing technique to smooth down the polycarbonate protective layer:

1. Clean the Disc Surface
   Hold the disc carefully by its outer edges or the center spindle hole. Wipe the shiny data surface gently using a clean, dry microfiber cloth. **Crucial Rule:** Always wipe in straight lines from the center hub directly to the outer edge. Never wipe in circular patterns, as circular scratches can permanently ruin data tracks.
2. Apply a Fine Buffing Compound
   Dab a small pea-sized amount of standard, non-gel baking soda toothpaste or pure Vaseline onto the scratched areas of the disc.
3. Polish the Polycarbonate Base
   Using a soft cloth, apply light, even pressure and rub the compound from the inside out in straight radial strokes. This process gently grinds down micro-edges to let the drive's laser read the underlying data layer cleanly.
4. Rinse and Test
   Rinse the disc thoroughly under lukewarm running water to remove all compound residue. Pat it completely dry with a lint-free cloth, insert it into your PC CD/ROM or external DVD drive, and attempt to copy your files immediately to local storage.

Video tutorial: How to Solve CD-ROM or DVD Drive not working in Windows?

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Part 2. How to Recover Saved CD-RW, CD, DVD-RW, DVD Data on PC

🔍 Recovery Compatibility Matrix for Historical Optical Backups

Because optical discs degrade naturally over time (a process known as "disc rot"), keeping local image dumps and file backups on local drives is vital. If those hard drive backups are accidentally lost or formatted, **Wondershare Recoverit** can recover the following optical data file containers from your PC:

If you have saved the CD or DVD videos, photos on your computer, but lost them in an accident, there's a way to get back your data. That is to use professional data recovery software and scan the storage device where you used to save CD or DVD backup files.

Here, we recommend Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery software for you, it is a powerful data recovery software that can help you recover data or deleted files, it supports to recover any data files from any storage media.

Download and install Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery on your computer. Connect your device that has storage backup files from CD or DVD to the computer. Then follow the next step to perform DVD data recovery on a Windows computer. If you are working on Mac, you will need to download Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac and follow similar steps.

Step 1. Select the Location

Launch Wondershare Recoverit on your computer, then select the device to recover CD or DVD backup files. Click the "Start" button to process.

Step 2. Scanning the Storage Devices that Saved CD or DVD Files

Recoverit Data Recovery will start to search your data files. After the first scan, if you cannot find your data, you can go to scan with "Deep Scan" to search for more DVD or CD files.

Step 3. Preview and Recover Lost Data

After the scanning, you can preview some recoverable files like photos. You can select your recovered data and click the "Recover" button to get them back.

With  Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery software, you can easily get your data files back from any device and storage media. What if your DVD or CD got damaged and corrupted, you also should try to get your data files first, or you should take it to the repair service store and fix it. Download Recoverit Data Recovery and try it for now.