Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for capturing a complete baseline image of the operating environment of a host computer system on an external storage device and for generating incremental backups of the operating environment as changes to the operating environment are identified to create an aggregate baseline image of the operating environment of the host computer system. The external storage device can be disconnected from the host computer system and connected to a remote host where the aggregate baseline image can be used launch a remote host environment on a virtual machine running on the remote host. The remote host environment allows a user to make changes to the remote host environment and the changes can be written back to external storage device as a delta image that is included in the aggregate baseline image. The aggregate baseline image can then be synchronized with the native host.

Abstract: A system and method in which when a user logs into a client computer with his user name, the client computer determines the existence of a server and the server automatically adds the user name to the list of users maintained by the server, is disclosed. With the user name automatically populated in the server user list, the administrator may easily select and configure access for the user.

Abstract: A vertical autoloader design enables multiple data cartridges to be selectively loaded into a drive while minimizing the device footprint. The structure of the vertical autoloader incorporates Geneva steps into the walls of the autoloader. The Geneva steps interface with gearing on a drive carriage to move the drive vertically. The data cartridges are inserted into slots on the front of the vertical autoloader, and the data cartridges not currently loaded into the drive can be removed and replaced while the autoloader is in operation. Further, the vertical autoloader includes prevent devices in the cartridge slots to ensure the data cartridges are loaded correctly.

Abstract: A device can receive information to be stored in a first part of a first portion of a block, read previously-stored information from a second part, and store the specified information in the first part and simulate storage of the previously-stored information in the second part while generating error detection information which is then stored in a second portion of the block. The device can read a specified subset of sections in a block, use part of each section to detect and/or correct an error in another part thereof, while avoiding reading the error detection information unless a section in the subset has an uncorrected error. Detected errors are corrected with successive correction stages, while maintaining for each section being processed in the stages a count of the number of other sections which are thereafter read in succession without error.

Abstract: A method of detecting a change in fly-height comprising measuring a first baseline position error signal (PES) at a first diameter on a disk, measuring a second baseline PES at a second diameter, measuring a first transient PES at the first diameter subsequently to the first baseline PES, measuring a second transient PES at the second diameter subsequently to the second baseline PES, determining a first change in PES by comparing the first transient PES to the first baseline PES, determining a second change in PES by comparing the second transient PES to the second baseline PES, performing responsive action when one of the first change in PES exceeds a first threshold and the second change in PES exceeds a second threshold, and generating a general error condition when both the first change in PES and the second change in PES exceed respective thresholds.

Abstract: A method of dynamic fly-height control in a disk drive, comprising measuring current environmental parameters, determining an operation heater power based on the current environmental parameters, and applying the operation heater power to adjust the fly-height of a head. Using the current environmental parameters to interpolate an estimated current touch down heater power from the predetermined set of environmental parameters and plurality of corresponding touch down heater powers. A system of dynamic fly-height control includes a touch down power module to generate a plurality of environmental parameters and corresponding touch down heater powers, an environment module to receive the plurality of environmental parameters and corresponding touch down heater powers and generate an estimated touch down heater power based on measured current environmental parameters, and a heater module to receive the estimated touch down heater power and generate an operation heater power to control a fly-height of a head.

Abstract: A track map of a disk drive is generated to compensate for various conditions. A track map is a stored measurement of every “half” servo track width on a disk. Every servo half track width is measured in the factory on a disk and then the data is stored on the disk for use during drive operations. When an individual track is accessed, the appropriate servo half track width data is pulled from memory and is used to adjust a scale factor for that local half track width. The track map may be used to compensate for various conditions including varying servo track width, microjog distance, and data track spacing.

Abstract: PMR spacing is measured by writing a pattern on a magnetic storage layer in non-return-to-zero notation, reading the pattern from the magnetic storage layer, analyzing a first harmonic component of the pattern that has a first amplitude, analyzing a second harmonic component of the pattern that has a second amplitude, measuring a ratio between the first and the second amplitudes of the first and second harmonic components, and determining a first spacing based on the ratio. In another embodiment, spacing is measured by analyzing a third harmonic component on the magnetic storage layer that has a third amplitude, measuring a difference in the amplitudes of the second and the third harmonic components while varying the first spacing and taking the ratio of the difference of the two each harmonic components.

Abstract: A track map of a disk drive is generated to compensate for various conditions. A track map is a stored measurement of every “half” servo track width on a disk. Every servo half track width is measured in the factory on a disk and then the data is stored on the disk for use during drive operations. When an individual track is accessed, the appropriate servo half track width data is pulled from memory and is used to adjust a scale factor for that local half track width. The track map may be used to compensate for various conditions including varying servo track width, microjog distance, and data track spacing.

Abstract: A disk drive having a heater element on the read/write head includes control circuitry to prevent head/disk contact by limiting power to the heater element. As the power to the heater element increases, thermal expansion reduces the fly height until head/disk contact occurs. During drive calibration, a maximum power level allowed to the heater element is determined by detecting heater power at a level where a parameter value such as motor current exceeds a threshold level.

Abstract: A disk drive uses the integration of the instantaneous velocities of the heads to estimate the distance the heads travel while latched. The disk drive can then determine if the heads are properly parked based solely on the distance traveled, thus avoiding the use of costly sensors. In the event that the heads cannot be properly parked due to some malfunction, the disk drive may store a special code in a nonvolatile memory. The special code directs the controller not to spin up or attempt to load the heads on any disk, preventing the disk from being damaged by the heads.

Abstract: A method of detecting a change in fly-height comprising measuring a first baseline position error signal (PES) at a first diameter on a disk, measuring a second baseline PES at a second diameter, measuring a first transient PES at the first diameter subsequently to the first baseline PES, measuring a second transient PES at the second diameter subsequently to the second baseline PES, determining a first change in PES by comparing the first transient PES to the first baseline PES, determining a second change in PES by comparing the second transient PES to the second baseline PES, performing responsive action when one of the first change in PES exceeds a first threshold and the second change in PES exceeds a second threshold, and generating a general error condition when both the first change in PES and the second change in PES exceed respective thresholds.

Abstract: A removable data cartridge is protected from air-transported particles such as dust, excessive moisture, contaminants, and the like by filtering or otherwise conditioning the airflow at initial startup. The recording media in the data cartridge is initially spun at a rate of speed higher than the operating speed for a brief period of time. By spinning the media at the increased speed, any particles in the cartridge will be removed by the filters. After the initial cleaning period, the spin speed of the media is reduced to a normal operating level.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically executing a participating application upon insertion of a removable media into a computing device. When the computing device detects that the removable media containing has been inserted, a task disk control file is read from the removable media. The task disk control file contains all of the configuration information necessary to run the participating application from the removable media The participating application is then launched for use by a user. After the user is finished using the participating application, the removable disk is automatically ejected. In addition to monitoring for insertion of the removable media, events such as a completion of the self-contained application and a request to eject the media are monitored. When a completion event is encountered, all data files are saved, temporary files deleted and configuration information removed prior to the removable disk ejection.

Abstract: A system an method for distribution of electronic data over a network infrastructure that includes a client device for operation by a user desiring to receive the electronic data and server that contains the electronic data and offering the electronic data for downloading to the client device via the network infrastructure. The client device communicates a compound data key that includes a unique serial number associated with a particular piece of media to which the electronic data is to be stored to the server, vendor information and user information. The server encrypts the electronic data using the compound key, and downloads the encrypted electronic data to the client computer, where the client computer writes the encrypted electronic data to the particular piece of media such that the encrypted electronic data may only be accessed from the particular piece of media.

Abstract: A removable magnetic storage device uses an optical drive interface to appear to the operating system as an optical drive. Thus, a removable magnetic drive appears to the operating system as a large optical device similar to DVD/CD, and receives similar functionality. By appearing as an optical device, the removable magnetic storage device can use many features not currently available to magnetic storage devices, such as autorun, multiple volume sets, larger capacity, and efficient space allocation.

Abstract: An information storage system has structure with a head that can effect information transfers with respect to a storage medium. According to one feature, a control portion monitors a characteristic of information read from the storage medium, and can take action to reduce the likelihood of non-recoverable errors based on the characteristic. According to a different feature, the control portion moves the head to a position adjacent a portion of a surface on the storage medium, waits while moving the head relative to the surface, and then moves the head to another position adjacent a different portion of the surface. According to another feature, the control portion calculates a distance of the head from the surface based on information read from the surface, and determines based on this distance whether the head or the storage medium may fail to satisfy a criteria.

Abstract: A process for continually compensating for the microjog error resulting from RRO. Typically, the 1F RRO is the most significant, but the method could be applied to the microjog error caused by RRO of other frequencies. The process continually determines an instantaneous microjog error based on the RRO and adjusts the read element target position throughout one revolution, such that the write element remains centered on its intended position.

Abstract: A removable magnetic data storage cartridges incorporates antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) media and may be used with a data drive to push the capacity point of removable hard platter based magnetic storage to 35 GB for a single platter 2.5? form factor product. The removable magnetic data storage cartridges incorporating AFC media represents an equivalent increase in the areal density of removable magnetic data storage cartridges on the order of 13×.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in fly-height comprises measuring motor currents at various radii at a regular interval to determine the head drag. If any of the head drags at the various radii are greater than a threshold value, it is determined that a decrease in fly-height has occurred. If the disk drive has a head cleaner, a head cleaning is initiated to correct the fly-height change. If no head cleaning is necessary, a general error signal may be generated to indicate potential drive failure.