DRE is a common. Sony fixes that (and all the other problems) for free only if your system is still unter warrenty. I've had 3 PS2s, one was the main, my launch PS2, that died in 2004. One day it just wouldn't turn on. It costs more to get it fixed then to buy a new one if your system is out of warrenty(read: 250 canadians dollars plus shipping and handeling), also my the warrenty for that one was voided, mine was perfectly modded for the past 3 years before it decided to crap out on me. The other two vanilla PS2s can't read PS2 disks. Acts of god or poor quality control? Your choice. Also, FYI if people still don't know, Sony is trying to make Spring as it's launch. I for one, don't see it happening with all these problems srrounding it.