Patent ID: 7627786

Claim:
In an automated data storage library subsystem with storage shelves configured to store data storage media, a plurality of data storage drives, and at least one robot accessor configured to transfer data storage media between said storage shelves and said data storage drives, the method comprising: detecting the occurrence of selected error events involving a data storage drive and selected error events involving a data storage media; upon a selected error event involving a data storage media, attempting to move said data storage media to another data storage drive to prevent a retry procedure, and conducting a similar operation to the operation that resulted in said selected error event; separately tracking successive error events of individual data storage drives and individual data storage media, wherein a complete successful operation of at least one of said data storage drives and said data storage media breaks the chain of said successive error events for said successful at least one data storage drive and said data storage media having a chain of said successive error events; comparing the number of said successive error events of at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media to a threshold; and upon said number of said successive error events reaching said threshold, placing at least one of said data storage drive and said data storage media in a failed category.