dvdisaster http://dvdisaster.net/en/index.html
I tested this free software by writing a full data DVD and then making a 25% backup data file.
I then took the DVD to the workbench and drilled several holes into it.
The software was able to fully recover an image of the DVD.
For important data I recommend two copies of the original data disk stored in different locations and two copies of the recovery data also stored in different locations.
Protecting your important data is not easy, cheap or fun.
But losing that data is even less fun :-(
Large hard drives are getting really cheap so it is a good idea to always buy two identical drives and store the same data on both. It is very unlikely that both drives will ever fail at the same time (Unless you work at the IRS)
Umm, no, that’s actually a really BAD idea. If there’s a manufacturing defect, they WILL fail at the same time. Backing up on two hard drives is by itself a splendid idea, but go for two different brands and you avoid the issue of bad batches ruining you.