Thank you, but I would not start hardware changes just for a 5 euro game (that I knew from the four single titles in combined installation anyway, I just bought 1946 to have an easier installation routine), even less so when my system works stable in all other ways. the DVD drive is just 5 months old, and no exotic piece, nor anything special or atypical.
I didn;t specifically mention changing hardware as some people have other systems where they can test a disc. Due to the high volume production of discs and drives there will always be issues such as you have had and in my experience it is usually down to an incompatability between disc and drive.
However, the problem has become irrelevant meanwhile, since in a moment of robust temper I just have broken the DVD after it started to rotate endlessly, forcing me to reboot the system each time it did.
Problem solved in a Klingon way. The issue feels much better this way, at the price of two cups of coffee. If that is not a steal!
No need for further helps, guys, but thanks again. Lesson learned today: not only avoid anything which has "Starforce" printed on it, but make a huge evasive manouver if it reads "SecuRom" as well.
Not going to argue, but you'd have been better buying it from Gog.com anyway