Method and apparatus for implementing intelligent spin-up for a disk drive

A method for implementing intelligent spin-up for a disk drive comprising the steps of:

• receiving a command;
• checking for a disk drive start command;
• responsive to identifying said disk drive start command, checking a no-start flag;
• responsive to identifying said no-start flag being set, returning an error code without starting said disk drive;
• identifying a predefined dead device fault, setting said no-start flag, setting a no-load flag and storing said error code;
• and
• responsive to receiving said command with said disk drive running and said transducer heads not being loaded, checking said no-load flag.

Apparatus for implementing intelligent spin-up for a disk drive comprising:

• a disk drive controller;
• said disk drive controller responsive to receiving a disk drive start command, for checking a no-start flag;
• said disk drive controller responsive to identifying said no-start flag being set, for returning an error code without starting said disk drive;
• said disk drive controller for starting said disk drive only responsive to said no-start flag not being set;
• said disk drive controller for monitoring said disk drive to identify a predefined dead disk drive fault;
• and
• said disk drive controller responsive to identifying a predefined dead disk drive fault, for setting said no-start flag, and for storing said error code.

Apparatus for implementing intelligent spin-up for a disk drive comprising:

• a disk drive controller;
• said disk drive controller responsive to receiving a disk drive start command, for checking a no-start flag;
• said disk drive controller responsive to identifying said no-start flag being set, for returning an error code without starting said disk drive;
• said disk drive controller for starting said disk drive only responsive to said no-start flag not being set;
• and
• said disk drive controller responsive to identifying said no-load flag being set with said disk drive running and transducer heads not being loaded, for stopping said disk drive and returning said error code.

A computer program product for implementing intelligent spin-up for a disk drive, said computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by a disk drive controller in the disk drive, cause the disk drive controller to perform the steps of:

• receiving a command;
• checking for a disk drive start command;
• responsive to identifying said disk drive start command, checking a no-start flag;
• responsive to identifying said no-start flag being set, returning an error code without starting said disk drive;
• starting said disk drive only responsive to identifying said no-start flag not being set;
• monitoring said disk drive to identify a predefined dead disk drive fault;
• and
• responsive to identifying a predefined dead disk drive fault, setting said no-start flag, and storing said error code.

A computer program product for implementing intelligent spin-up for a disk drive, said computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by a disk drive controller in the disk drive, cause the disk drive controller to perform the steps of:

• receiving a command;
• checking for a disk drive start command;
• responsive to identifying said disk drive start command, checking a no-start flag;
• responsive to identifying said no-start flag being set, returning an error code without starting said disk drive;
• starting said disk drive only responsive to identifying said no-start flag not being set;
• receiving said command with said disk drive running and transducer heads in said disk drive not being loaded;
• and
• responsive to identifying said no-load flag being set, stopping said disk drive and returning said error code.