Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting handling damage in a direct access storage device (DASD). The DASD has at least one disk mounted for rotation and a transducer mounted for movement across tracks recorded on the at least one disk. Each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of sectors. A handling damage analysis test is performed within a predetermined damage zone on the at least one disk. Test results from the handling damage analysis test are compared with at least one threshold value. An error code is outputted responsive to compared test results being greater than the at least one threshold value. A microcode routine is stored in a random access memory (RAM) in the DASD. The microcode routine is performed for detecting handling damage in the direct access storage device (DASD) upon installation. An error code is outputted to a host interface responsive to compared test results greater than a threshold value.