According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes magnetic disks, a plurality of magnetic heads, and a control unit. A plurality of magnetic heads each includes a heat-assist unit which applies a preheating current of such magnitude that data already written to the magnetic disk is not erased to a near-field optical element for the preheat time. The control unit measures the time elapsing from a start of write to the time when a value of an index indicating the quality of a recording signal of data written by the magnetic head converges to within a first threshold range, and adjusts the preheat time for each of the magnetic heads in such a manner that the measured lapse time becomes less than or equal to a second threshold.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus is provided with a magnetic disk, a buffer memory, and a control circuit. The magnetic disk has plural bands, each of which is a storage area in which data is written by the method of SMR. The control circuit receives a read request from outside. If the data requested to be read is first data of an update target stored in a first band among plural bands, the control circuit reads the first data from the first band, stores the first data in a buffer memory, and updates the first data in the buffer memory. Then, the control circuit transmits the first data in the buffer memory to the outside and writes the first data in the buffer memory to one of the plural bands.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface, the first head comprising a plurality of elements including a first element. During a first write operation of the first head, a first bias signal having a first polarity is applied to the first element, and a write interval of the first write operation is measured. During a non-write mode of the first head, a second bias signal having a second polarity opposite the first polarity is applied to the first element during a reverse bias interval that is based on the write interval of the first write operation.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over an energy assisted magnetic media comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a plurality of data sectors. A write operation to a first data sector is executed by applying a first current to a write coil of the head while the head is over a second data sector preceding the first data sector, wherein the first current comprises a first amplitude. A second current is applied to the write coil while the head is over the first data sector, wherein the second current comprises a second amplitude lower than the first amplitude.

Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a disk and a read/write head configured to read data from and write data to the disk. The read/write head comprises a write pole tip and a transducer configured near the write pole tip. One or more processing devices are mounted on or near the read/write head and generate an AC current that is applied to the transducer to cause the transducer to generate a high frequency auxiliary field that is applied to the disk. The one or more processing devices may be an RF source IC mounted on or near a slider on which the read/write head is integrated or mounted.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes magnetic disks, a plurality of magnetic heads, and a control unit. A plurality of magnetic heads each includes a heat-assist unit which applies a preheating current of such magnitude that data already written to the magnetic disk is not erased to a near-field optical element for the preheat time. The control unit measures the time elapsing from a start of write to the time when a value of an index indicating the quality of a recording signal of data written by the magnetic head converges to within a first threshold range, and adjusts the preheat time for each of the magnetic heads in such a manner that the measured lapse time becomes less than or equal to a second threshold.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes an output driver, a magnetic head, and a magnetic recording medium. The output driver outputs a recording signal corresponding to input information. The magnetic head includes a coil. A recording current includes the recording signal flows in the coil. Information corresponding to the input information is recorded in the magnetic recording medium. The input information includes first, second, and third information combinations. The first information combination includes first to fourth information. The second information combination includes fifth to eighth information. The third information combination includes ninth to twelfth information. The recording signal changes to an eleventh recording current to correspond to the eleventh information. The recording signal changes to a third recording current to correspond to the third information. An absolute value of the eleventh recording current is greater than an absolute value of the third recording current.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes an output driver, a magnetic head, and a magnetic recording medium. The output driver outputs a recording signal corresponding to input information. The magnetic head includes a coil. A recording current includes the recording signal flows in the coil. Information corresponding to the input information is recorded in the magnetic recording medium. The input information includes first, second, and third information combinations. The first information combination includes first to fourth information. The second information combination includes fifth to eighth information. The third information combination includes ninth to twelfth information. The recording signal changes to an eleventh recording current to correspond to the eleventh information. The recording signal changes to a third recording current to correspond to the third information. An absolute value of the eleventh recording current is greater than an absolute value of the third recording current.

A magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk that includes a plurality of tracks, a magnetic head for reading data from the magnetic disk, and a controller. The controller begins controlling the magnetic head to move to a second track of the plurality of tracks from a first track of the plurality of tracks before decoding of a first track signal output from the magnetic head is completed, wherein the first track signal is output from the magnetic head while the magnetic head is positioned over the first track.

A magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk that includes a plurality of tracks, a magnetic head for reading data from the magnetic disk, and a controller. The controller begins controlling the magnetic head to move to a second track of the plurality of tracks from a first track of the plurality of tracks before decoding of a first track signal output from the magnetic head is completed, wherein the first track signal is output from the magnetic head while the magnetic head is positioned over the first track.