Abstract: A disk drive has a side-zero and a side-one analog and digital circuits. The disk drive may write both sides of the disk at the same time and then verify both sides at the same time. A microcontroller is connected to the side-zero and side-one digital circuits. The microcontroller receives the sensor index pulse from the index sensor and then sends a microcontroller index pulse to the side-zero and side-one digital circuits a predetermined period of time after receiving the sensor index pulse. The predetermined period of time is such that after the head is stepped to the next track and achieves a stable position, writing will begin.