Abstract: A disk drive configured to enable media defect margining during disk testing may comprise a disk comprising a plurality of tracks; a head actuated over the disk; and a processor operable to test media of the disk drive to detect a media defect; estimate a depth of the detected media defect; determine a margining amount based on at least the estimated depth of the detected media defect, and apply the determined margining amount to the detected media defect.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including a plurality of tracks, a head coupled to an actuator arm actuated over the disk, and control circuitry operable to first seek the head from a first track to a second track, read data from the second track to generate a first read signal, second seek the head from the second track to a third track, read data from the third track to generate a second read signal, third seek the head from the third track to a fourth track, and read data from the fourth track to generate a third read signal. The first, second, and third read signals are evaluated to qualify the disk drive, wherein the first, second, and third seeks are executed in proximity so as to excite the actuator arm with a jitter motion.