Abstract: A disk drive utilizes a unique write condition for each of the transducers within the drive. Each write condition is determined based upon the specific properties of the corresponding transducer. The write condition information is preferably stored within a memory within the disk drive. When a write operation is performed, the appropriate write condition for the corresponding transducer is used to determine when to write data to the disk. A write condition will typically include one or more individual write criteria. For example, a write condition can specify a write threshold value to be used during a write operation. Similarly, a write condition can involve a combination of a write threshold and a radial transducer velocity. Other write criteria are also possible.

Abstract: A disk drive uses seek profile manipulation to provide enhanced transducer fly height control. The maximum seek velocity that is used during a seek operation is made dependent upon, among other things, the direction associated with the seek operation (i.e., either radially inward or radially outward with respect to the disk). In a preferred embodiment, the maximum seek velocity in a direction that normally results in a fly height loss is made less than the maximum seek velocity in the opposite direction. Thus, a minimum transducer fly height can be maintained with minimal effect on average seek time in the disk drive. In one approach, the maximum seek velocity values are stored within a lookup table within the disk drive.