I backed up my photos onto a DVD and now my computer tells me it cannot read the dvd. It seems I have a damaged dvd. Any possible solutions aside from tossing out the disc and getting a better back up system?
if you're computer is only a couple years old then invest in an external USB 2 hard drive. Back up your data to it - much faster. Many come with software allowing you to schedule backup jobs for the middle of the night or something.
The only way to make sure you have a good backup is to test it. Always check you can read, copy and restore from your backup. That stands the same for any media: dvd, flash external drive, etc.
Sometimes you just run into bum discs. As the other person said, check them after burning them to make sure they work. I usually find about 1 in 20 discs go bad. Depends on various factors...speed of the burn (burn slower for better burn), quality of disc (you get what you pay for) and quality and health of the burner.
Also watch how you store them. Though, that's usually a bigger issue in hot humid places.