Can a DVD player scratch a VCD?

I bought a Yamakawa multiregion dvd player 2 yrs ago at Frys. It was great for 2 years. Now the last three VCDs it has played, it scratches at the corners (basically lose the last 10 minutes) of the content on the VCD. The scratch is circular and the VCD does not play on any computer also. Basically the DVD player is screwing up my VCDs.

Iam wondering how a DVD player can scratch a VCD? Anybody else seen this kind of problems?

So shud I just go and buy a branded dvd player like Philips, Pioneer, Panasonic, Sony etc? :@

Generally, the disc is held safely above the laser mechanism, but with a spinning disc and probably with your machine having an automatically closing drawer mechanism, anything can happen. If you're sure it's the player harming your discs, by all means buy a new player.

Personally, after buying a new machine, I would take apart the old one before throwing it away and find out what the problem was. Just my innate curiousity. Do report back; I'm curious.

John

Perhaps the retention mechanism releases the disc into the cradle before the disc's fully stopped spinning. That would explain the circular scratches on the other edges.

ALSO -

How (badly) scratched can a standard DVD take to keep playing good?

Also, any truth to the rumor that if you use a GREEN Sharpie and
color in-and-around the inner circle of a DVD, it'll play better?

Shookie,

How badly scratched and still play? That will vary from player to player. The error-correction mechanism in some machines is more forgiving than in others.

The green sharpie business is a myth that's been around in hi-fi for many years. It is supposed to effect a noticeable improvement in the sound of a CD. Nobody has ever been able to confirm the assertion regarding CDs or DVDs in blind listening or viewing tests, and certainly not in lab tests. In other words, forgetaboutit.

John