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C.A.T.S. CEO · May 11, 2007, 10:50 PM

It scared the **** out of me

$20 down the drain

starman · May 11, 2007, 11:31 PM

What was the CD?

Cipher13 · May 12, 2007, 01:43 AM

As a rule nowadays I only use printable blanks. The uniform texture on the surface, and the relative thickness of that film make them tougher, in my experience. Avoid blanks with uneven surfaces, as when the disc is spinning at that kind of speed, surface variations can cause vibrations which could potentially result in the above.

analogika · May 12, 2007, 03:20 AM

Don't the better drives have vibration sensors to make sure precisely that does NOT happen?

I seem to recall every disk that vibrated a little more in my 'books over the past few years spinning down again and being read more slowly.

design219 · May 12, 2007, 06:53 AM

So, what, was the thing just spinning along and then just exploded? Make a loud noise?

And you just paid $20 for it, or is that the CD cost? Is the drive trashed or just the disc?

SpaceMonkey · May 12, 2007, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by design219

And you just paid $20 for it, or is that the CD cost? Is the drive trashed or just the disc?

It was obviously a steel-crusted, exploding throwing disc that he purchased for $20 from Batman off of Craigslist, and mistook it for a CD. Happens all the time.

JoshuaZ · May 12, 2007, 08:31 AM

Luckily you weren't in front of that thing when it exploded. Could have lost an eye.

Cipher13 · May 12, 2007, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by analogika

Don't the better drives have vibration sensors to make sure precisely that does NOT happen?

I seem to recall every disk that vibrated a little more in my 'books over the past few years spinning down again and being read more slowly.

I'd have thought so.

Who can account for bad manufacturing though?

C.A.T.S. CEO · May 12, 2007, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by starman

What was the CD?

A KNOPPIX CD, luckily I shut it down fast.

Originally Posted by design219

So, what, was the thing just spinning along and then just exploded? Make a loud noise?

And you just paid $20 for it, or is that the CD cost? Is the drive trashed or just the disc?

Its 11 o'clock at night and then something that sounds like a cherry bomb goes off in your small room, so yeah it made a noise.

ajprice · May 12, 2007, 12:19 PM

Well you don't see that every day!

Looks like a bare drive so was it an internal that you've taken out for the photos? Any other damage to the computer when it blew?

Just be happy you weren't sitting in front of it when it went, that would have been a lot more painful than losing a $20 drive.

C.A.T.S. CEO · May 12, 2007, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by ajprice

Well you don't see that every day!

Looks like a bare drive so was it an internal that you've taken out for the photos? Any other damage to the computer when it blew?

Just be happy you weren't sitting in front of it when it went, that would have been a lot more painful than losing a $20 drive.

it was a internal, no other damage. Originally I thought one of the hard drive's disk platters had snapped (old HDs) or that the power supply had blown. Then I remembered that Mythbusters episode and that I had a 52x drive, and sure enough...

TheoCryst · May 12, 2007, 02:50 PM

Yep, I know a guy who's had that happen to him. Don't you think CD drive manufacturers would have figured out by now that CDs just aren't designed to spin that quickly? Seriously, cap it at 48x and call it a day.

CharlesS · May 12, 2007, 02:56 PM

Is 48x much better than 52x though? The difference in speed is pretty small, anyway...