Thanks BG. I was hoping it wasn't the laser. I did try to clean the laser with one of those CD's with the brushes (although it was an old disc) but to know avail. I took it apart and re seated the chip and it booted first time but not the second. I guess you are right .
I just got a premodded V7 with Magic 2 chip. Is that chip as hard on the laser as the no-solder mod?
Thanks.