Need Help With DVD Player Issue

Hi, guys! I need some advice regarding my combination DVD player/recorder/VCR machine (Zenith XBR616). I bought it just before Christmas last year because I needed to transfer all of my VHS tapes to DVD.  I did my research and this particular model was supposedly reliable. It was very reliable for a while, and I've been recording DVDs like a crazy girl.  About a week ago, it suddenly decided to give me the DVD player's version of the finger -- no matter what DVD disc I put in the machine (ones I've recorded on that very machine, ones I've bought or rented, etc), the player reads the disc for what seems like ages and then "Unknown disc, please check disc again" pops up on the screen and the DVD drawer opens up. I'm going to try a DVD cleaner disc in a couple of days to see if the laser might be dirty.  I can't imagine what else it could be, and I'm not sure it's worth the hassle to try and get Zenith to honor the 1-year warranty on parts (I'd be stuck for the labor cost of any repair, which may cost more than I paid for it). Any other suggestions on what might cause my DVD player to do this, or am I hosed? Thanks for any help you can offer, Kix

I must have taken a wrong turn.... Anyway, the laser is probably dirty or dead.  If you've been burning a lot, I'm leaning towards dead; though only have so many hours in them. Try cleaning it.  Also, try a couple different media in it (commercial DVD, audio CD) to see if they play.  If they do, it's dirty.  I they don't, it may still be dirty. 

hmmm.