Abstract: A method of protecting a glass substrate, especially a display glass or a hard disk blank made from a glass or a glass-ceramic, from unacceptable surface damage and scratches, often leading to glass breakage, during processing and transport, is described. This protective method includes applying a removable protective coating made of at least one polymer layer, or at least one polyvinyl alcohol layer, to the glass substrates by spraying or rolling the polyvinyl alcohol or a polymer solution of the polymer to be applied in a polar organic solvent, onto the glass substrate, or dipping the substrate into it. Then when the substrate is ready for its end use, the protective coating is removed by washing in water or polar organic solution so that a residue does not remain on it. The glass substrates, protected in this manner have outstanding surface quality and improved hard disk blanks can be economically produced from them.