Abstract: An apparatus, modules, means, and computer readable media for and a method of diagnosing a failed disc drive are disclosed. A disc drive is operably connectable to a host computer and has a data storage disc. A portion of the disc is a Critical Event Log storage area for storing a Critical Event Log and another portion of the disc is an ATA Error Log storage area for storing an ATA Error Log. A disc drive interface provides a data communication path between the disc drive and a host computer. Firmware in the disc drive stores the Enhanced Short DST module and performs Enhanced Short DST upon receiving a run diagnostics command from the host computer. The firmware is operably connected to the data storage disc and the disc drive interface. The Enhanced Short DST determines a disc drive failure by examining data stored in at least the Critical Event Log and the ATA Error Log.

Abstract: A host-transparent, performance-unaffecting, self-contained write authentication test (SWAT) is implemented in a disc drive to utilize periods of disc drive inactivity to self-verify data written to a disc in a disc drive and further record in the Self Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology (SMART) feature of the disc drive, various resultant metrics characterizing the operation of the disc drive during the data authentication. The disc drive maintains a list of recently received write commands, and after a period of inactivity from the host, optionally sorts and parses the list of recent write commands, executes reads from the disc of the data recently written, and records operational parameters characterizing failed data verification during the reads in the SMART feature.

Abstract: A method and system for managing the transfer of data into and out of a buffer in a disc drive is disclosed. The operation of the vectored buffer management (VBM) system is administered by a software-based control module. The control module creates and maintains a buffer table by dividing the buffer table into buffer sectors. The buffer sectors are further arranged into buffer segments, or circularly linked lists upon which the buffer table is partitioned. The control module effectuates the transfer by implementing an application module across the buffer table. Once the application module is arbitrarily positioned at an index sector by the control module, data transfer is accomplished when the application module walks through a particular buffer segment identified by the index sector. Specific control of the application module across a buffer segment is administered through host and disc address pointers, which are coupled to host and disc next pointers, respectively.

Abstract: A method of constructing a ferrite magnetic head that can be used for vertical recording. The head is created by first bonding a non-magnetic shoe to the legs of a C-Shaped magnetic core to create a block assembly. A pole surface of the block is then lapped and sputtered with a magnetic pole material. A layer of alumina is then sputtered onto the magnetic pole material. After sputtering, the block is ground to create air bearing grooves and a plurality of poles. The bearing surface of the block is then lapped to the apex of an oblique interface between the shoe and core to create the throat of the pole. The block is cut into individual transducer cores which are then wrapped with a wire coil and attached to a flexbeam.

Abstract: A brick tie member composed of an elongated rigid member having notches at spaced apart intervals along its longitudinal edges.