Patent ID: 8339723

Claim:
A method, comprising: using a processor to compare (1) a length of a separator to be skipped on the storage disk with (2) a threshold associated with a maximum value for which a timing loop is able to be paused without causing the timing loop to have inaccurate timing; and in the event the length of the separator is greater than the threshold: using the processor to assign a first split sector format to the split sector, wherein in the first split sector format, a first portion of the split sector includes synchronization information and the second portion of the split sector includes synchronization information; and using the processor to record that the split sector has the first split sector format; and in the event the length of the separator is less than the threshold: using the processor to assign a second split sector format to the split sector, wherein in the second split sector format, the first portion of the split sector includes synchronization information and the second portion of the split sector excludes synchronization information; and using the processor to record that the split sector has the second split sector format.