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Blu-ray Drive
The Playstation 3 Blu-ray drive is the primary component, as it houses the optical lens and laser, as well as the mechanisms that make the disc spin. If your gaming console no longer plays video, DVD or Blu-ray discs, changing your Blu-ray drive is the surest route to fix the problem. A replacement drive can range anywhere from $60 to $100, depending on your parts source and drive's manufacturer.
Optical Lens
If your Blu-Ray drive stills spins a disc, but doesn't read the data on it, then you may have a faulty optical lens or laser. The laser shoots a wave against the spinning disc that reflects back down onto the lens, which then transmits that signal to the console. If either part isn't working, you'll likely get an error message that the disc couldn't be read. It's often more difficult to change the lens or laser than the whole Blu-ray drive itself. However, the cost to replace a lens or laser is less expensive.
Ribbon Cable
The ribbon cable that connects the Blu-ray drive unit to the circuit board is another component that may turn faulty. When the cable goes out, you may or may not receive an error message while trying to play discs. Replacing this part is fairly inexpensive as it normally costs $10 to $15 for the part from most online sources.
Kits
If you are unsure about your ability to successfully replace any of the three components, most Playstation 3 part sellers have special kits available to help you complete the task. These kits provide the right parts and tools for the job, along with the instructions. To replace the Blu-ray drive you will need a Torx 8 screwdriver, which may or may not be included with some kits.