Does CD repair really work?

I have a question pertaining to those CD repair's that you can get done at local game shops and e.t.c. I ask if it really did anything? I recently got SWBF2 recoated by that invention but it still freezes when I go to the multiplayer menu, after the authentication finishes. It slightly improved (It doesn't freeze in the start menu anymore) but the entire game itself is still not freeze free. So did the recoating actually do anything? I assumed that recoating a cd with the compounds it's layered with would fix the problem. Am I right? Or are these machines just a bust?

 

The alternative is what EA was proposing, where it would reauthenticate every ten days over the internet, but wouldn't require the disc. A lot of this can be alieved by full installations and using the disc for authentication only at game start up.

For years I was an avid Total Annihilation player, to the point that the CD shattered inside the drive. Fortunately the top coating was sufficiently stiff so as to keep it removable in one piece.

I've used the home repair kits though, and it's pretty much a roulette wheel as to whether it will work. It's usually better to just to get another copy.

 

Hi, Cabie here, I have a few tricks you may want to try - they have worked for me in the past, but there is some danger also.
I have used rubbing compound - the white liquid stuff - and using it sparringly, I ave buffed the scratches out using a bench mounted buffing wheel. You have to go at it easily though, or you may buff out the data as well. Also There's another thing that I'd like to mention - You are allowed to make a copy of the disk. Just one copy, and it is leagal to do this. Then you put the original disk away and use the copy as you would the original. then if the copy gets trashed you can go to the original and make another copy to use. I am not a lawyer but this has been leagal to do. Maybe the software companies don't want to let you know about this practice so they can sell more product.
And finnally use home made lables on your CD's the back of the disk is the most vulernable and by using an home made lable you give it a protective jacket.