Bought a gamebit on fleaBay and opened the ol' GC up. Turned the potensiometer ever so slightly counter-clockwise and VOILA - the laser lens is apparently recalibrated. Now, disks are being read again at startup (no more DRE's!). Used the instructions found here and here.
Here's the location of...
It's back. The last time they had this sale it was during the winter holiday season 2006. The place is a hardware and garden store ( http://www.menards.com ), but they must get these closeouts a couple of times a year.
A few titles (St. Paul MN - University Ave location):
Tron 3.0 2.0
Freedom...