Abstract: A disk drive has at least one disk for storing data. The disk drive includes at least one transducer for reading or writing data to or from the disk. The transducer is attached to an actuator which positions the transducer with respect to the disk. The actuator includes a controllable motor which is used to move the actuator and the transducer attached thereto. The disk drive also includes a ramp for off loading the transducer or for parking the transducer off of the surface of the disk. The disk drive includes a combination shock absorber and gasket that has locking tabs to keep the combination shock absorber and gasket in place during a shock or impact loading event. The combination shock absorber and gasket also can be provided with additional extensions to lessen shocks caused by flat drops. Elastomeric blocks or pads can be provided on the cover and the base to lessen shocks caused by flat drops.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive includes redundant data written at a plurality of out of phase angular locations to reduce the latency and enhance performance during a read operation. The loss of recording capacity is reduced by increasing the data density to achieve the same soft error rate standard required for single recording. Dual recording also allows different recording codes to be used at the duplicated locations to thereby have the more highly stressed code words occur at different locations in the data to further reduce the possibility of an error. The redundant recording can be used in one portion of the media and normal recording used in another media portion to enable selection of the recording technique in accordance with the type of data being stored. The size of the normal and redundant recording portions can be controlled by the format operation and the user of the disk drive can intervene to designate the size of the redundant and normal media recording portions effected during the format operation.