Error correction method and apparatus for headers

An error correction apparatus which recording a sector of information from a host on a rotating magnetic storage medium, the sector including header information for the sector and user data information associated with the header information of the sector, the apparatus comprising:

• a controller which generates target identification information indicative of a target location on the medium where the sector is to be recorded;
• an interface for obtaining from the medium header information for a pre-recorded sector on the medium;
• a header correction subsystem, the header correction subsystem including:
• a correction unit which performs error correction on the header information for the pre-recorded sector to obtain corrected header information for the pre-recorded sector;
• and,
• a comparator which makes a comparison of the corrected header information for the pre-recorded sector with the target identification information, and
• wherein the controller uses the comparison to control timing of recording of the user data information of the sector on the medium.

A method of recording a sector of information from a host on a rotating magnetic storage medium, the sector including header information for the sector and user data information associated with the header information of the sector, the method comprising:

• (1) generating target identification information indicative of a target location on the medium where the sector is to be recorded;
• (2) reading the medium to obtain header information for a pre-recorded sector on the medium;
• (3) performing error correction on the header information for the pre-recorded sector to obtain corrected header information for the pre-recorded sector;
• (4) making a comparison of the corrected header information for the pre-recorded sector with the target identification information, and
• (5) using the comparison of step (4) to control timing of recording of the user data information of the sector on the medium.