A dual-stage servo system of a disk drive includes a first fine positioning servo system with a first microactuator that independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface and a second fine positioning servo system with a second microactuator that independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface. The first microactuator accesses a first data stripe while the second fine positioning servo system simultaneously accesses a second data stripe. Data can be transferred to or from the first and second data stripes simultaneously.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head for writing data to the disk and reading data from the disk, and a controller configured to detect a positioning error of the head as the head is writing the data in a first track of the disk, and change a first threshold value for interrupting the writing based on one or more evaluation values corresponding to a possibility of correcting error data in the first track of the disk. The controller interrupts the writing when detecting the positioning error of the head writing the first track that exceeds the first threshold value.

A dual-stage servo system of a disk drive includes a first fine positioning servo system with a first microactuator that independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface and a second fine positioning servo system with a second microactuator that independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface. The first microactuator accesses a first data stripe while the second fine positioning servo system simultaneously accesses a second data stripe. Data can be transferred to or from the first and second data stripes simultaneously.

A method includes detecting different data patterns in data read from a portion of a non-transitory data storage medium. Bit errors in the different data patterns are then determined. Further, bits in error for a total number of bits in each of the different data patterns are calculated from the determined bit errors in the different data patterns.

In accordance with an embodiment, a hard disk drive includes voice coil motors (VCMs) coupled to respective control units configured to drive retract an operation of the VCMs in the hard disk drive. The retract operation of the VCMs includes a sequence of retract steps. The control units are allotted respective time slots for communication over a communication line with the respective time slots synchronized via the common clock line, and are configured to drive sequences of retract steps of the VCMs in the hard disk drive in a timed relationship.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head for writing data to the disk and reading data from the disk, and a controller configured to detect a positioning error of the head as the head is writing the data in a first track of the disk, and change a first threshold value for interrupting the writing based on one or more evaluation values corresponding to a possibility of correcting error data in the first track of the disk. The controller interrupts the writing when detecting the positioning error of the head writing the first track that exceeds the first threshold value.

A dual-stage servo system of a disk drive includes a first fine positioning servo system with a first microactuator that independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface and a second fine positioning servo system with a second microactuator that independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface. The first microactuator accesses a first data stripe while the second fine positioning servo system simultaneously accesses a second data stripe. Data can be transferred to or from the first and second data stripes simultaneously.

According to embodiments, a magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The magnetic disk has formed therein a servo sector in which servo data including a first post code and a second post code is recorded. In the positioning of the magnetic head, the controller performs a correction using a third post code that is based on the first and second post codes and a first temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

In accordance with an embodiment, a hard disk drive includes voice coil motors (VCMs) coupled to respective control units configured to drive retract an operation of the VCMs in the hard disk drive. The retract operation of the VCMs includes a sequence of retract steps. The control units are allotted respective time slots for communication over a communication line with the respective time slots synchronized via the common clock line, and are configured to drive sequences of retract steps of the VCMs in the hard disk drive in a timed relationship.

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.