Version tracking of disk write operations

A data storage device comprising:

• means for receiving data to be stored on the data storage device that permits random access of data storage sectors;
• means for generating a write operation sequence identifier;
• means for combining the write operation sequence identifier with user data to obtain a complex data sequence, wherein error detection information for the combined write operation sequence identifier and the user data is included in the complex data sequence;
• and
• means for writing the complex data sequence to a data storage medium of the data storage device.

A method of storing data on a data storage medium in a data storage device, the method comprising:

• receiving data to be written to the data storage medium during a write operation;
• and
• generating a write operation sequence indicator uniquely identifying the write operation as against all other write operations performed on the disc, wherein generating the write operation sequence indicator comprises:
• incrementing a power-up counter once for every time the data storage device is powered up;
• incrementing a write operation counter once for each write command which is received;
• and
• combining at least one count value obtained from the power-up counter with at least one count value obtained from the write operation counter to obtain the write operation sequence indicator.