Check your DVDs for disc rot — Warner Bros. says it’s replacing them

Discussion in 'hardware' started by ronjor, Mar 8, 2025.

  1. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    by Wes Davis Mar 8, 2025
     
  2. Bill_Bright

    Bill_Bright Registered Member

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    This is not good. And sadly, while I found this list of affected DVDs, it does not appear to be official, or complete. There are several DVDs listed that I have in my collection. But according to one person, Shawshank Redemption is affected but I don't see it on that list. That said, Shawshank Redemption came out in 1994 so not sure how accurate the report was.

    We need WB to publish an official list of releases for that time period.

    Supposedly, we can write to whv@wbd.com and get replacements if available, or some sort of compensation if not available.

    Note this appears to only affect DVDs pressed between 2006 and 2008 and does not affect Blu-ray disks.
     
  3. Stupendous Man

    Stupendous Man Registered Member

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    Thank you for posting.

    Besides the info in The Verge article, the mentioned JoBlo article also mentioned the Steve Hoffman forums thread. That forum thread not only includes a 2024 post with the list of reported and confirmed Warner Home Video DVDs that have rotted (the list was also mentioned in The Verge article), but the Steve Hoffman forums thread also has a 2024 post that lists affected mould code and master codes.

    As Bill_Bright said, we need WB to publish an official list of affected releases. I doubt they will.

    In my DVD collection, I have a few WB DVDs.
    None is in the list of defective WB DVDs.
    However, two have mould code IFPI 2U** (2UW5 and 2UZ1) and master code IFPI L907. Those are Region 1 DVDs.
    Luckily, I have Region 2 copies as well, with entirely different mould code and master code.
    So if my Region 1 copies might fail, I hope my Region 2 copies are still OK.

    But anyhow, what a mess.
    I wonder what company's disc media are to fail next.
     
  4. Bill_Bright

    Bill_Bright Registered Member

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    I saw that list too - but it also is not official. Note it lists 208 titles while the list I linked to shows 215. So again, we need an official list from WB.
     
  5. Stupendous Man

    Stupendous Man Registered Member

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    Oh, thanks very much. I thought they were the same, I overlooked the fact that one lists 208 titles and the other 215.
    Thanks again for mentioning.

    Indeed.
     
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