My $8 thrift store DVD player ate my only copy of The Matrix and I'm still mad about the fix

Cole Lee · 2026-09-22T04:20:04.899932+00:00

So last Saturday I'm at my buddy's place in Toledo, we got this old Daewoo DVD player I grabbed at Goodwill for 8 bucks like two winters back, and it's been a champ the whole time. We pop in The Matrix, the disc I've had since high school, and about ten minutes in the thing starts making this grinding noise like a coffee grinder full of rocks. I hit eject and the tray won't open, just clicks over and over. We ended up unplugging it, letting it sit, then holding the power button while plugging it back in, and the tray finally popped out but the disc was covered in these deep circular scratches. So here's my debate for you all: do I crack the case open and try to fix the laser sled myself, or do I just retire it and hunt for another cheap player? Half of me says it's an 8 dollar machine, why waste a Saturday, the other half says I've kept way worse junk running with a screwdriver and some patience. My girlfriend says toss it, my neighbor who fixes old consoles says open it up and clean the rails with alcohol. What would you do with a dead player that still spins but won't read?

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My $8 thrift store DVD player ate my only copy of The Matrix and I'm still mad about the fix | Bargain Bin Tech - Pinecone Attack