CDs reading/burning with graphic artifacts

[Sedge]

Using the same plextor external drive that I have always used for burning CDGs, I've noticed that as of the last few weeks, my CDs are burning with considerable visual artifacts/noise, although the audio tracks seem to be writing fine. Same is true for reading disks that I know will read fine in other players (when I take them out to sing with).

I hadn't used that external drive in several months. I really doubt it is kJams, and I am inclined to think that it is just a dirty lens. Sort of odd it would only affect the sublayer data (video) though. Any suggestions on cleaning? I don't mind pulling it apart, and I actually have two external drives (the other is a Lite-On) that will read/write sublayer data for CDG, so if I destroy the first one, I still have the second. Both had similar problems burning and reading, although one was a bit worse than the other.

>>Sedge

[dave]

i suspect the hardware too. kJams hasn't changed in that area.