Error recovery data storage system and method with two position read verification

A method for a data storage system comprising the steps of:

• moving a read head to a first position along the width of a data track of a data storage medium;
• reading the data track at the first position;
• determining if a successful data read has occurred at the first position;
• storing the information read at the first position;
• moving the read head to a second position along the width of the data track, the second position being a distance D from the first position;
• reading the data track at the second position;
• determining if a successful data read has occurred at the second position;
• and
• determining if the data of the first read are equal to the data of the second read and transmitting the data if they are equal.

A data storage system comprising:

• a data storage medium having data tracks;
• a read element;
• a read means connected to the read element for causing the read element to read data from the data track;
• a movement means for moving the medium relative to the read element;
• a positioning means for moving the read element relative to the data track to different positions across the width of the data tracks;
• and
• a control means connected to the positioning means for causing the read element to be moved in alternating positive and negative incremental distances away from an initial position until a first successful read has been made of the data, and for causing the read element to be moved to a second position a positive distance D away from the position of the first successful read if the first successful read was made at a positive incremental distance and causing the read element to be moved to a second position a negative distance D away from the position of the first successful read if the first successful read was made at a negative incremental distance, such that a second successful read is made at the second position, the control means further including a comparison means for comparing the data read from the first position and the second position to determine if they are the same.