The laser lens is likely dirty.
Particularly if anyone in the house is a smoker. If anyone smokes tobacco of any kind in the house the oily tar and smoke residue builds up on the lens. Once the oily residue is on the lens, it naturally attracts dust. If you can't see the reflection of your eye while looking straight at the lens, even if you're employing the use of a flashlight then, the lens is too dirty to read the discs for any extended period of time. If you can access the lens, you should use a pressurized duster first and then a chamois tipped swab without alcohol or any cleaning fluid on it to get rid of the dust and soak up any oil. Then a chamois tipped swab dipped in Isopropyl Alcohol to finish the cleaning.
I hope this helps.
Mike Cleverley, August 2006
