Removing DVDs from their cases

[mg262]

Some DVDs I've purchased recently are remarkably hard to extract from their cases... in this particular instance (some DVDs from France), the DVDs are held in by a roughly hexagonal protrusion... it has six small but very stiff tabs that come out from the central circle to hold the DVD in. (I would post a picture but I don't have a digital camera or scanner access at present.)

In order to take the DVD out of the case, I have to apply quite a lot of force... enough so I can watch the DVD deforming and still not be able to remove it. I've tried trying to press the central tabs in, but because there are six of them it doesn't really help.

I'm worried about damaging the DVD... any advice would be much appreciated.

[Shinigami-Sama]

I've noticed those ones too..
I havn't found a way around it, other than maybe cutting one of the tabs off. but I wouldn't recamend it

[Joe Fenton]

You can extract the discs by just pushing down on the center of all those tabs. It works similar to other press-the-center type cases. Hold the CASE by the outside edges with one hand, and push the center protrusion with a finger on the other hand. The disc should pop right off without undue bending.

[Shinigami-Sama]

some of them<mostly from rogers video> won't let me do that, the case itself is to flimsy and bends too.
but what in the hell were the designers thinking when they made thses cases? or where they?

[ottermi619]

Security purposes, though this assertion might be pretty lame. I always fear of breaking the disc every time I release it from some cases.

[feedback]

I have had that problem with a DVD flexing about 40 degrees before it popped out. I thought I was going to break it. I didn't. I had tried pushing in the center to release and that did not work, so I tried pushing in the center with one hand and pulling on the outside with the other.
I was so pissed at how hard it was to extract that I didn't care if I broke it. It finally popped out in one piece. I tossed that buggering case away and stuck the original in another case that I had bought for backups...cussing all the while.

Regards,:)

[Mug Funky]

i've seen some discs like these from funimation. try lifting it gently and rotating the disc at the same time, but this probably wont help.

it's a worry because DVDs are more easily damaged through bending, but far less easily damaged through scratching, because they're 2 plastic layers instead of 1.

telly what - if you get discs like these, tell the guys that put them out. the "s" cases are good - the ones with two halves in the centre that looks like a yin-yang. just push on it and the disc comes out - no bending necessary. also, these ones don't allow you to put your finger on the outside of the disc to pry it out - the only way to do it is pushing the centre, so the disc can't (in theory) be bent. good design IMHO.

FYI, where i work we switched to these cases because the fans asked us to. so there is hope :)

[edit] missed a word...?

[Shinigami-Sama]

A tip I jsut thought of for those stupid cases
take a razor blade and score the edges where they bend, take some of hte stiffnes from them :D

[mg262]

You can extract the discs by just pushing down on the center of all those tabs. It works similar to other press-the-center type cases. Hold the CASE by the outside edges with one hand, and push the center protrusion with a finger on the other hand. The disc should pop right off without undue bending.Thank you for the reply... I have just tried that, but the case doesn't seem to be flexible enough for that to work... again the DVD bends without coming out. The centre protrusion in this really is a vicious object and it just won't let go.

@Mug Funky
I would take up your suggestion, but I don't think my French is good enough these days!
________________

I think what I might do is get some separate cases (preferably the S-type you mention... I have one of those here and it is very nice), and slide out the inserts from the commercial cases and slide them into the new ones. Has anyone tried doing this? I don't suppose anyone knows of a good place (pref in the UK ;) ) to get cases (a type with the plastic that holds inserts)?

[Shinigami-Sama]

the realy nice pc stores have some, the ones that also sell dvds that is
futureshop has some but I'm not sure furture shop is in pal-land or not

[Cogar]

I agree that cutting one of the six tabs off is an easy solution. The remaining 5 tabs should still hold the disk in OK. I believe the likelihood of the disc coming loose and damaging itself is less than the risk of breaking it by forcing it while removing it from the case. My DVDs spend 99% of their time just sitting there anyway. They don't need the same degree of protection as they would shipping from a manufacturer, being handled in a store and dropped, etc.

[Arachnotron]

I actually killed a DVD with one of these, a small piece broke off from the edge of the hole in the center.
Mind, it was "Ilsa, she wolf of the SS", so not really a great loss... :D

[Inventive Software]

I had the same problem with a game CD I had. I regularly played it, and had to deform the disc to get it out. It did go back to it's original shape, but one day, it decided to give up the ghost. The disc has a nice clean line right through one side.

I was disappointed to say the least. Now I have another game (not the same one) from the same publishing company that has the same issue with the case. I don't play it very often because if I do I'm more likely to break the disc. Not nice because it's a waste of £10, and it's out of warranty. Thankfully I don't have the same problem with DVD movies.

I'd like to see games publishers in particular take notice of these issues. I know it can be a money spinner, but if they keep doing it I certainly won't buy any more of their games until I know that I won't damage the disc just trying to get it out to play it.

[Joe Fenton]

If they're really that bad, you can sometimes remove the sleeve, then snip one of the tabs from the other side with wire cutters. Like someone above mentioned, replace these cases with something better. I have a box of DVD cases I bought in bulk so that I can replace bad cases. They're cheap - like 14 cents each in bulk ($28 for 200).

http://www.meritline.com/dvdcasblac25.html

The last batch of these I ordered had a really nice holder that you release by pressing the center. Very good design. Hopefully they don't change suppliers too often - I need to order more here shortly. :)

[Backflip]

I use the two thumb method (two thumbs on inner holding mechanism and fingers on edge). Press down, then ease it out.