You need to find out if NB1, NB2, NP, TSB and EPS of the UART are connected to Gnd or 5V This will give you the number of data bits, parity, stop bits.
Why two supplies? This is the converter topology that will do buck/boost
http://www.ti.com/lit/an/slyt309/slyt309.pdf
Google voltmeter module . There are heaps of them.
Some machines have switches on the front loading mech to tell sys control the state, and wont operate without the plug in and the tray in the loaded position. Another problem that is common is the mode switch.
Another thing, when it does this be ready (lid off) and rotate the supply reel, assuming by rewind you mean the take-up reel. This tells the controller that all the tape has been wound in.
Get a tape you dont want and gut it removing the clear windows. Cover up the tape-end holes with black tape. This is a test blank. See if the machine will load it.
Worrying.