Abstract: Illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising one or more disks; an actuator mechanism comprising one or more heads, and configured to position a head proximate to a disk surface; and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to: measure a read quality of a location on the disk surface; modify a refresh frequency for performing refresh writes at the location, based on the read quality at the location; in response to the refresh frequency at the location becoming stabilized, determine an integrated track interference (xTI) per write metric at the location; and, in response to determining that the xTI per write metric at the location is below a threshold for the xTI per write metric, modify an operating parameter of the head at the location to improve a longevity metric.

Abstract: A data formatting system and method to improve data efficiency and integrity in a hard disk are disclosed. One embodiment provides a disk drive system having a plurality of lookup tables which store a plurality of randomizer seeds which may be dynamically encoded into the preamble field of a customer data block if the customer data is deemed marginal. Encoding the randomizer seed into the preamble field prevents adjacent data track mis-writes and mis-reads.

Abstract: A data formatting system and method to improve data efficiency and integrity in a hard disk are disclosed. One embodiment provides a disk drive system having a plurality of lookup tables which store a plurality of randomizer seeds which may be dynamically encoded into the preamble field of a customer data block if the customer data is deemed marginal. Encoding the randomizer seed into the preamble field prevents adjacent data track mis-writes and mis-reads.

Abstract: In addition to the conventional test pattern writing in a center of each track and inspection of burst patterns (A and B patterns) through a writing test in a SAT, there is also performed a test pattern data writing test, which is done at each boundary between tracks. With this additional test, it is possible to accurately inspect both C and D burst patterns that are sensitive to a PES signal at each boundary between tracks.

Abstract: In addition to the conventional test pattern writing in a center of each track and inspection of burst patterns (A and B patterns) through a writing test in a SAT, there is also performed a test pattern data writing test, which is done at each boundary between tracks. With this additional test, it is possible to accurately inspect both C and D burst patterns that are sensitive to a PES signal at each boundary between tracks.