Systems and methods for logically organizing data for storage and recovery on a data storage medium using a multi-level format are described. Embodiments include systems and methods for protecting data stored on a data storage medium so that the data may be recovered without errors.

A recording and reproducing device includes: a reading unit that reads production information from a recording medium of a magnetic tape cartridge, the magnetic tape cartridge including a magnetic tape, and the recording medium other than the magnetic tape and on which the production information is recorded, the production information being information regarding the magnetic tape obtained in a production process of the magnetic tape cartridge; and a control unit that performs, as an initialization process of the magnetic tape cartridge, control of recording the production information on the magnetic tape and invalidating the production information in the recording medium.

A derivation device is a device that derives a reading path by a reading element in a case where plural pieces of data to be read are read from a recording medium, and includes a first derivation unit that derives a value representing a recording density of the data for each of plural areas in which the plural pieces of the data to be read are recorded, and a second derivation unit that derives a path for sequentially reading the data as the reading path for an area in which the value representing the recording density is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value and derives the reading path according to a predetermined path determination method for an area in which the value representing the recording density is less than the threshold value.

A derivation device is a device that derives a reading path by a reading element in a case where plural pieces of data to be read are read from a recording medium, and includes a first derivation unit that derives a value representing a recording density of the data for each of plural areas in which the plural pieces of the data to be read are recorded, and a second derivation unit that derives a path for sequentially reading the data as the reading path for an area in which the value representing the recording density is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value and derives the reading path according to a predetermined path determination method for an area in which the value representing the recording density is less than the threshold value.

A recording and reproducing device includes: a reading unit that reads production information from a recording medium of a magnetic tape cartridge, the magnetic tape cartridge including a magnetic tape, and the recording medium other than the magnetic tape and on which the production information is recorded, the production information being information regarding the magnetic tape obtained in a production process of the magnetic tape cartridge; and a control unit that performs, as an initialization process of the magnetic tape cartridge, control of recording the production information on the magnetic tape and invalidating the production information in the recording medium.

A recording and reproducing device includes: a reading unit that reads production information from a recording medium of a magnetic tape cartridge, the magnetic tape cartridge including a magnetic tape, and the recording medium other than the magnetic tape and on which the production information is recorded, the production information being information regarding the magnetic tape obtained in a production process of the magnetic tape cartridge; and a control unit that performs, as an initialization process of the magnetic tape cartridge, control of recording the production information on the magnetic tape and invalidating the production information in the recording medium.

A recording and reproducing device includes: a reading unit that reads production information from a recording medium of a magnetic tape cartridge, the magnetic tape cartridge including a magnetic tape, and the recording medium other than the magnetic tape and on which the production information is recorded, the production information being information regarding the magnetic tape obtained in a production process of the magnetic tape cartridge; and a control unit that performs, as an initialization process of the magnetic tape cartridge, control of recording the production information on the magnetic tape and invalidating the production information in the recording medium.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head which writes data to the disk and reads data from the disk, and a controller which increases a first recording density of data to be written to a first sector having a first overwrite in the first sector and reduces a second recording density of data to be written to a second sector having a second overwrite different from the first overwrite, on a first track of the disk.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head which writes data to the disk and reads data from the disk, and a controller which increases a first recording density of data to be written to a first sector having a first overwrite in the first sector and reduces a second recording density of data to be written to a second sector having a second overwrite different from the first overwrite, on a first track of the disk.

Systems and methods for maximizing shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drive capacity are described. In one embodiment, the SMR drive may include a main store to store user-accessible data, a media cache and media scratchpad to store internal data temporarily for internal operations, and a storage controller to process read and write requests. In some cases, the main store comprises a shingled media partition and an unshingled media partition. The storage controller may designate one or more data tracks from the shingled media partition as temporary data track guard bands. In some embodiments, a track range is selected based at least in part on at least one of an amount of data in the media cache, a size of the new data in the media cache, and an association between the new data in the media cache and data currently stored within the selected track range.