Patent ID: 6408406
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A method of functionally testing a potentially defective disk drive having data sites on a disk for recording data thereon, the disk drive storing a plurality of historical performance parameters for continuously logging problems during the operation of the disk drive, the method comprising the steps of:performing an analysis of stored historical performance parameters, comprising the steps of: defining a set of performance thresholds associated with each of the plurality of stored historical performance parameters; retrieving the stored plurality of historical performance parameters; comparing the value of each of the plurality of historical performance parameters against its associated performance threshold; and marking the disk drive as a failed disk drive if the value of the historical performance parameter exceeds the associated performance threshold, else performing a set of non-destructive read/write tests to selected regions of the disk, comprising the steps of: defining a set of performance thresholds associated with each of the sets of non-destructive read/write tests; running the set of non-destructive read/write tests, generating a set of results; comparing the results of each of the non-destructive read/write tests against the associated performance threshold; and marking the disk drive as a failed disk drive if the results of the non-destructive read/write tests exceed the associated performance threshold.