Are you using reliable DVD media?
You might be surprised (I was) to learn that even some well-known brands of blank DVD media may not be a smart purchase. digitalFAQ.com has posted an illuminating guide that describes who makes the best media, how to spot the absolute junk, and what you can expect from different manufacturers and resellers. It turns out, not surprisingly, that there are a few manufacturers and many brand names slapped on these discs. The articles lays out the following facts in its introductory paragraphs:
Not all media is good. In fact, with the high influx of cheap media from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, I'd venture to say most media is bad. This review guide is meant to shed some light on who manufactures and brands good and not so good quality DVD media.
While some cheap media may work for you, it's a gamble that often loses.
As more and more PCs are equipped with DVD burners and the increased capacity makes them the logical choice for data backups, this information is critical to make sure you're not trusting your irreplaceable information to a cheap piece of media. Caveat emptor!
Hat tip to LifeHacker for the link.