-> WC>  RE: Cleaning CD burner. 

-> ->> I may go the route of disassembly and cleaning. Depends how
-> ->> inexpensive a replacement will be when I get out there and
-> ->> look at what is available in my little corner of the world. 

-> WC> I see my regular CD drives have those specialized torx
-> WC> screws complicating matters :-( 

-> I've never taken one apart but I never let that stop me before.
-> ;-) 
                       
Me neither but I very strongly suggest you obtain  the 
correct torx driver as those screws are extremely small.
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