The hardest thing can be getting at the laser focus lens to clean it. For some players simply remove the case cover open the drive and can see the lens. For some other players you must remove the drive from the case take the top off to even see the lens.
Working on an old computer, whether the CD/RW drive and the DVD Rom drive were giving you nightmares. After spending hours with drivers, settings, software updates, new install of Windows XP Home, do you want to go on?With not much to lose on a 6 year old machine, You can take out the CD/RW drive first. Remove the bottom cover, 4 small screws, carefully lift the complete mechanism up out of the case after removing the front Bezel. With the tray pulled most of the way out, clean the laser focus lens with a Q-Tip and alchohol or the cotton buds and alcohol. While it was apart, put a little WD40 on a Q-Tip and applied a little to the rails that the laser slides on. Re-assembled and put back in the machine. Problems solved! It will now read and write anything you throw at it.
If you have a problem drive and ready to trash it to buy a new one. Do the same thing with the DVD Rom drive and it performs properly also. It took about 20 minutes per drive and now they are running very good. The CD/RW was barely operable before doing the cleaning.
Last sunday, I cleaned an old CD player in a similar fashion. It wouldn't play CDs, but after cleaning, it worked well. I don't remember exactly, but I think I cleaned the laser focus lens with alcohol and a microfiber cloth.I cleaned the rails and lubricated them with a light oil. Very pure kerosene actually.I guess the lens cleaning did the trick. I'm not so sure about lubricating the rails. Probably a good idea, but over time the oil will attract dust.
Don't toss out a drive till you try to clean the laser focus lens. Just thought this may be of value to those who are not faint of heart about investigating problem hardware.
References:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/