OK, this actually brings up a point I have been pondering lately. For all those CD ROMS that seem to have broken gears, why not just:
1. Replace the whole laser mechanism with a new one? The new systems have a specified working lifetime of 5000 hours...that's a lot of game time
--OR---
2. Grab a cheap CD player, disconnect the internal electronics, and wire that new mechanism into the old electronics. It may look a bit unusual to
have a CD player sitting on top of the CD ROM, but when you're desperate....
By the way, this is the first picture of a CD ROM I have seen here (despite my previous requests) that is good enough to show the laser assembly outlines. I don't suppose someone could take a picture of the internal mechanism? I'm having a hard time buying one of these suckers on EBAY, and a picture would help me determine the wiring needs.
Charlie