Rescue Important Data with ddrescue

ddrecue is better than dd, dd_rescue or dd_rhelp if you want to (try to) backup what's possible from a broken (hard or compact) disc. It creates a log file and which lets you continue interrupted backups. If you try to backup a broken cd or dvd it might help to use different dvd drives to try to read the disc.

Don't let it run over night or you might end up with an exhausted dvd drive that doesn't really want to read anything any longer.