A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving, from a tape drive, a first error location on a magnetic tape where a first error occurred, in addition to determining one or more areas on the magnetic tape to be examined based on the first error location. Independent of a read and/or write operation, the tape drive is instructed to induce relative motion between a tape head and the magnetic tape such that the tape head is positioned adjacent to each of the respective one or more areas in turn. Moreover, each of the one or more areas having a respective number of measured servo errors which exceeds a threshold value is identified as a damaged area of the magnetic tape.

A magnetic disk device includes a plurality of tracks and a controller. The controller receives write data to be written to a first sector of a track, generates a first data string based on the write data and a logical identifier for the first sector, attempts to cause the first data string to be written to the first sector, determines whether a write error has occurred while the first data string is written to the first sector, generates a second data string based at least in part on the first data string, and in response to determining that no write error has occurred while the first data string is written to the first sector, writes a parity data string that is based at least in part on the second data string to a second sector of the track that stores parity data for the track.

A computer-implemented method for determining a damaged area of a magnetic tape loaded in a tape drive, according to one embodiment, includes: determining a first error location on a magnetic tape where a first error occurred in response to experiencing the first error. Moreover, the method includes determining one or more areas on the magnetic tape to be examined. The one or more areas are determined using a predetermined algorithm which incorporates the first error location. Independent of a read and/or write operation, relative motion is induced between a tape head and the magnetic tape such that the tape head is positioned adjacent to each of the respective one or more areas in turn. Furthermore, each of the one or more areas having a respective number of measured servo errors which exceeds a threshold value is identified as a damaged area of the magnetic tape.

A magnetic disk device includes a plurality of tracks and a controller. The controller receives write data to be written to a first sector of a track, generates a first data string based on the write data and a logical identifier for the first sector, attempts to cause the first data string to be written to the first sector, determines whether a write error has occurred while the first data string is written to the first sector, generates a second data string based at least in part on the first data string, and in response to determining that no write error has occurred while the first data string is written to the first sector, writes a parity data string that is based at least in part on the second data string to a second sector of the track that stores parity data for the track.

A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording includes a laser diode optically coupled to a waveguide of the slider. A power supply is coupled to the laser diode. A preamplifier is coupled to the power supply. The preamplifier is configured to monitor a forward voltage across the laser diode while operating the laser diode at a constant current during a write operation, detect a change in the forward voltage indicative of laser power instability, and generate a signal in response to detecting the forward voltage change.

A computer-implemented method for determining a damaged area of a magnetic tape loaded in a tape drive, according to one embodiment, includes: determining a first error location on a magnetic tape where a first error occurred in response to experiencing the first error. Moreover, the method includes determining one or more areas on the magnetic tape to be examined. The one or more areas are determined using a predetermined algorithm which incorporates the first error location. Independent of a read and/or write operation, relative motion is induced between a tape head and the magnetic tape such that the tape head is positioned adjacent to each of the respective one or more areas in turn. Furthermore, each of the one or more areas having a respective number of measured servo errors which exceeds a threshold value is identified as a damaged area of the magnetic tape.

A nonvolatile memory device performs a compare and write operation. The compare and write operation includes reading read data from memory cells, inverting first write data to generate second write data, adding a first flag bit to the first write data to generate third write data and adding a second flag bit to the second write data to generate fourth write data, performing a reinforcement operation on each of the third write data and the fourth write data to generate fifth write data and sixth write data, and comparing the read data with each of the fifth write data and the sixth write data and writing one of the fifth and sixth write data in the memory cells based on a result of the comparison.

A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording includes a laser diode optically coupled to a waveguide of the slider. A power supply is coupled to the laser diode. A preamplifier is coupled to the power supply. The preamplifier is configured to monitor a forward voltage across the laser diode while operating the laser diode at a constant current during a write operation, detect a change in the forward voltage indicative of laser power instability, and generate a signal in response to detecting the forward voltage change.

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a first error while accessing a magnetic tape, determining a first error location on the magnetic tape where the first error occurred, determining one or more areas on the magnetic tape to be examined, independent of a read and/or write operation, inducing relative motion between a tape head and the magnetic tape such that the tape head is positioned adjacent to each of the respective one or more areas in turn, using the tape head to measure a number of servo errors that occur in each of the respective one or more areas, and identifying each of the one or more areas having a respective number of measured servo errors which exceeds a threshold value as a damaged area of the magnetic tape. The one or more areas are determined using a predetermined algorithm which incorporates the first error location.

A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording includes a laser diode optically coupled to a waveguide of the slider. A power supply is coupled to the laser diode. A preamplifier is coupled to the power supply. The preamplifier is configured to monitor a forward voltage across the laser diode while operating the laser diode at a constant current during a write operation, detect a change in the forward voltage indicative of laser power instability, and generate a signal in response to detecting the forward voltage change.