Abstract: A disc drive typically contains at least one disc which is divided into sectors. The method of eliminating reassignments involves copying data stored at one sector (referred to as a moving sector) to another sector (referred to as a moving spare), and assigning the logical address associated with the moving sector to the moving spare. The elimination process is repeated until the reassignments are eliminated. Verification of the data copied is conducted to ensure data integrity. Furthermore, the elimination process is preferably executed only when the disc drive is in an idle mode. Records are kept and updated as the process is carried out so that the process can be continued even if interrupted.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for recording data in a variable bit density disc drive. The disc drive includes a recording surfaces, each having a corresponding head for recording data on the recording surface. At least one head is operated at a different recording frequency from the other heads, creating a variable bit density for the different recording surfaces. The combination of head recording frequencies is determined following an error testing operation and a unique physdisc lookup table is created based on the determined recording frequencies. The physdisc lookup table is used to allocate data sectors and to convert between logical and physical block addresses.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for recording data in a data storage medium. The data storage medium includes a number of discs, each having at least one recording surface. Each recording surface is associated with a read/write head that records and accesses data from the surface. Each recording surface is partitioned into a number of zones. Each zone is vertically aligned with a same zone on each surface of each disc. The zone boundaries on all surfaces of the disc drive are the same. The recording frequency for each zone on all surfaces can differ for each read/write head in order to compensate for a read/write head that cannot meet the BPI error rate threshold.

Abstract: A system for adapting head switching sequence in a disc drive includes a method of measuring the time duration for a head switch operation and the time duration of a track switch operation. The system compares the two time durations to determine whether head switching or track switching should be utilized within a zone of tracks on the surface of the data disc. Track switch time durations and head switch time durations may be averaged within a zone and the averages compared to determine whether to use head switching or track switching.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for recording data in a data storage medium. The data storage medium includes a number of discs, each having at least one recording surface. Each recording surface is associated with a read/write head that records and accesses data from the surface. Each recording surface is partitioned into a number of zones. Each zone is vertically aligned with a same zone on each surface of each disc. The zone boundaries on all surfaces of the disc drive are the same. The recording frequency for each zone on all surfaces can differ for each read/write head in order to compensate for a read/write head that cannot meet the BPI error rate threshold.

Abstract: A storage device for use with a computer is provided, the device includes self diagnostics and configuration. The device is adapted to recognize when the host computer system requests an operating system from the device, and instead of providing the operating system, provides its own diagnostic and configuration software. When the software executes on the computer, the software causes a user interface to be generated, which provides various configuration and diagnostic options to a user. Upon termination of the self diagnostic and configuration software, the device provides the operating system to the computer such that the start up sequence is resumed.