Abstract: Format specific parameters may be selected in a disk drive comprising a control system and a plurality of disk surfaces each having a surface format for storing data, wherein at least one surface format is different than other surface formats and wherein the control system comprises a microcontroller having a microcontroller execution memory. The method for selecting these format specific parameters includes initializing the disk drive for operation, receiving a data transfer command, and selecting a disk surface for performing data transfer operations based on the received data transfer command. The method further includes generating a format specific data structure corresponding to the selected disk surface, storing the format specific data structure at a predetermined address in the microcontroller execution memory, and executing instructions for performing the data transfer operations using the microcontroller, wherein the instructions are executed using the stored format specific data structure.