Everyone knows that eventually your Dreamcast will have problems reading discs, its a sad inevitability. Weather or not CD-Rs wear it out faster than GDs is another endless discussion. It makes sense but there are too many factors to consider unless anyone has any real proof That's not what this topic is about.
Sure we've all had a problem here and there with some discs and have to clean the laser lens once in a while. Some DIY guides online say to use a cotton swab and some isopropyl or ethenol alcohol to clean a laser lens, I Don't recommend this! but I'm not a scientific expert but I do know that isopropyl alcohol can damage certain types of plastic!
I personally do not recommend ever touching the lens but it has to be done SO BE GENTLE.
I recently had a dreamcast have a problem loading even my perfect condition GD Roms. I figured it was just loosing integrity like they eventually do. Then I started to think more about the lens itself, I took a closer look and the lens here seems to have a pale reflective tint to it. Don't have a good enough camera around to take a great picture but ill try to sometime. Like I said before I'm no scientist lol I don't know what type of plastic they're made of or what type of dichroic properties they have.
I thought, Don't plastics eventually oxidize and fade over time?
So I have this AMAZING Product around, Mequiars PlastX! ~
~This is an auto product used mainly for defogging headlights, but it states can be used for many other things, It can be used for scratched CD's and can renew old Sunglasses too! It has UV inhibitors in it and I can tell a difference right away I wipe some on buff it off and go outside in this arizona sun and I can't even feel the intensity my eyes are relaxed. It only lasts a handful of months it eventually wipes off. Works great for headlights and every piece of plastic I've used it on! It also works to fix oxidation in certain plastics as well. I use it all the time!
I figured since the DC lens was already dying What could it hurt to try this out? Works great for everything else. I wiped just the tiniest dab on a cotton swab, Gently applied it on the lens and buffed it dry with the other end. I could see a very slight difference in the sheen of the lens. Could just be my imagination.
I fired up my DC and it reads just about Every disc I've put in there! Even some old ones really scratched up wouldn't ever load WILL NOW LOAD!
This may just be another temporary fix, it may not be good for it at all I don't know, But it worked well so far I haven't had problems. I recommend you try it!
