Ran into my first Real Snag with the Star Trek Archive. It seems my copy of Season 5 Disc 2 is damaged in some way. Even after cleaning, I'm unable to rip two of the five episodes on the disc - my drive encounters a read error at exactly the same positions every time.
I'm not sure if this is a manufacturing defect or a scratch - I do see the tiniest of scratches on the disc surface, but I've ripped worse looking discs with no issues. If it was damage caused to the disc post-purchase, I am immediately prepared to blame CBS Home Video's abysmal packaging for the bulk set of TNG that makes it impossible to get a disc out without fighting for your life.
I'll try the disc with my other blu-ray drive, but it's made by the same company (Pioneer) so I don't have much hope that it'll perform any better. Still worth a shot. If I can't get those two episodes to rip properly, my only hope will be to go out and buy either the entire individual Season 5 release, or find one of those weirdo ebay sellers who sell individual discs from sets for people in my exact situation.
So yeah, TNG Season 5 will be delayed until I get this resolved.
A cursory search reveals the individual Season 5 set to be out of production and miserably overpriced ($75?!) and there are no replacement discs for Season 5 Disc 2 - though if you need Season 2 Disc 5 those ebay guys have got you covered.
So if I can't rip this disc I'll be in quite the pickle 😬
Might be possible to contact CBS Home Video directly somehow and ask for a replacement disc from them? I have heard reports of them sending out replacement discs when issues cropped up, but those are all from 10 years ago when physical media still kind of mattered. I have a terrible feeling I'd get a canned response along the lines of "We're sorry about your bad experience, for the best experience we recommend subscribing to Paramount+" or some shit like that.
