I try and keep my CDs and DVDs in good condition but recently if there's the slightest blemish on the playing surface it doesn't play and won't play until I wipe every last piece of dust or fingerprint from the surface.
Does this mean the burner's on it's last legs?
You can buy cleaners for CD/DVD players. Worth giving one a try. The one I have is a disc with small brushes sticking up which take the dust off the laser lens.