So I've had this dual format DVD burner for 6 months now, and after ~350-400 DVD+R's, it's finally starting to crap out.  I don't want to throw it away, and it can burn CDRs - so does anybody know if these type of burners use the same laser to burn DVDs as they do CDRs, i.e. would it still be good for burning CDRs (without errors, of course) if I'm getting a lot of errors with DVD burning?

What does "crap-out" mean?

There is only one laser in a unit.

Starting to burn a lot of DVDs that won't play in my DVD player -- >50%-- which didn't happen before.  My backup DVD burner is now my primary and is doing fine.

I was hoping to use my old DVD burner as a CD burner, but it sounds like if it's crapping out on DVDs, it'd crap out on CDRs, too.

You could probably trash it.  If you need a CD burner that badly, they can be had for about $35.  Cheap!  You can also upgrade to an NEC 16X Dual-Layer DVD burner for $76 at www.newegg.com.  I'm going to get myself one of those.