Method of detecting and isolating defective servo bursts

Abstract

A method to accurately determine a defective servo burst written on a recording medium having plurality of tracks, each track containing plurality of position data portions. The position data portions include servo bursts capable of providing position error information, which can be selectively retrieved by a servo control system having a servo gate enabling signal. A first likely defective servo burst is identified by reading each servo burst, measuring corresponding position error information and comparing to a range of acceptable position error information. While disabling retrieval from the first likely defective servo burst, the position error information of plurality of servo bursts occurring after the first likely defective servo burst is measured. If the measured values are within the acceptable range, the first likely defective servo burst is concluded as the first confirmed defective servo burst. If not, plurality of servo bursts occurring prior to the first likely defective servo burst are selectively disabled and subsequent servo bursts are measured until a skipped servo burst is concluded as a first confirmed defective servo burst. While disabling retrieval from first confirmed defective servo burst, subsequent servo bursts are measured to find a second likely defective servo burst. By selectively disabling retrieval of second likely defective servo burst and plurality of servo bursts prior to second likely defective servo burst, a second confirmed defective servo burst is also determined. Then the first confirmed defective servo burst and second confirmed defective servo bursts are permanently marked.