Abstract: A method is presented for writing data to a surface of a magnetic disk in a disk drive. The method includes determining a number of sector groups into which sectors of the data to be written will be grouped, loading registers with current values, kick-latching values, and precompensation values for each of said sector groups, and applying the current values, kick-latching values, and precompensation values for each of the sector groups to the write head while writing data to the sector groups of the recording media.

Abstract: A method is presented for writing data to a surface of a magnetic disk in a disk drive. The method includes determining a number of sector groups into which sectors of the data to be written will be grouped, loading registers with current values, kick-latching values, and precompensation values for each of said sector groups, and applying the current values, kick-latching values, and precompensation values for each of the sector groups to the write head while writing data to the sector groups of the recording media.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus includes a magnetic medium having a top recording layer of hard magnetic material for perpendicularly storing magnetic data and a bottom underlayer of soft magnetic material, a read head for reading magnetic data from a recorded portion of the recording layer, a stabilizer for magnetically stabilizing a portion of the underlayer directly below the recorded portion simultaneously while the read head is reading magnetic data from the recorded portion and the read head and the stabilizer being separate structures.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus includes a magnetic medium having a top recording layer of hard magnetic material for perpendicularly storing magnetic data and a bottom underlayer of soft magnetic material, a read head for reading magnetic data from a recorded portion of the recording layer, a stabilizer for magnetically stabilizing a portion of the underlayer directly below the recorded portion simultaneously while the read head is reading magnetic data from the recorded portion and the read head and the stabilizer being separate structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for characterizing a head in a hard drive assembly, in which the head has a write element. The method comprises providing a disk attached to a hard disk drive assembly, the disk having a plurality of tracks each having a track centerline. One of the tracks has a plurality of sectors. One of the sectors has a servo field with an A burst, a B burst and a C burst, where the A burst and the C bursts have a common boundary located at a track centerline and where the B burst has a center that is positioned along the track centerline. Each sector also has a data field. The read element is aligned with the B servo burst, and data is written in a data field of a first sector of one of the tracks. An A burst and a C burst located in a following sector of one of the tracks is read to provide an A burst amplitude value and a C burst amplitude value. A characteristic of the read element based on the A burst amplitude value and the C burst amplitude value is then determined.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a head in a hard drive assembly based on a magnetic read center shift and a read sensitivity change of the head. A disk attached to a hard disk drive assembly having a plurality of tracks each having a track centerline is provided. One of the tracks has a plurality of sectors, one of the sectors having a servo field with an A burst, a B burst and a C burst, where the A burst and the C burst have a common boundary located at a track centerline and where B burst has a center that is positioned along the track centerline. Each sector also has a data field. The read element is aligned with the B servo burst and a write excitation field is applied to the write element. The amplitudes of an A burst and a C burst located in a following sector of the track are then read to provide an A burst amplitude value and a C burst amplitude value.