Method and system for error correction in disk drive using plural retry tables

1. A method for performing error correction in a disk drive, comprising:

storing a plurality of retry tables in a data storage unit, wherein the retry tables include different ranges of values for a same set of a plurality of parameters used during a plurality of retries such that two retry tables have at least one of different respective maximum values and different respective minimum values for different respective ranges of a given parameter in the two retry tables, and wherein the retry tables are not changed after being stored in the data storage unit; and

selecting one of the retry tables to be used for the error correction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein firmware is not modified for using any of the plurality of retry tables during the error correction.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the retry tables becomes eventually selected as being optimum for the error correction depending on an application, operating conditions, and head/mechanical characteristics of the disk drive.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining that parameter values from a first selected table do not achieve error correction for a read/write command; and

using another selected one of the retry tables during a maximum number of allowed retries for the same read/write command.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data storage unit storing the plurality of retry tables is a maintenance cylinder of the disk drive.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the disk drive includes a magnetic disk having the maintenance cylinder.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data storage unit storing the plurality of retry tables is a memory unit apart from a disk of the disk drive.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the error correction is performed during an intelligent bum-in test for manufacturing the disk drive.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining parameter values from one of the plurality of retry tables for optimum performance of the disk drive during the intelligent burn-in test.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the error correction is performed during a read/write operation within a host system of the disk drive.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein each retry table determines a respective unique sequence of retry parameters to be retried with the respective sequence not changed for each retry table.

12. A system for performing error correction in a disk drive, comprising:

a first data storage unit for storing a plurality of retry tables, wherein the retry tables include different ranges of values for a same set of a plurality of parameters used during a plurality of retries such that two retry tables have at least one of different respective maximum values and different respective minimum values for different respective ranges of a given parameter in the two retry tables, and wherein the retry tables are not changed after being stored in the first data storage unit;

a processor; and

a second data storage unit having sequences of instructions stored thereon, wherein execution of the sequences of instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform the step of:

selecting one of the retry tables to be used for the error correction.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein one of the retry tables becomes eventually selected as being optimum for the error correction depending on an application, operating conditions, and head/mechanical characteristics of the disk drive.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein execution of the sequences of instructions by the processor causes the processor to further perform the steps of:

determining that parameter values from a first selected table do not achieve error correction for a read/write command; and

using another selected one of the retry tables during a maximum number of allowed retries for the same read/write command.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first data storage unit storing the plurality of retry tables is a maintenance cylinder of the disk drive.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the disk drive includes a magnetic disk having the maintenance cylinder.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second data storage units are part of a memory unit apart from a disk of the disk drive.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the error correction is performed during an intelligent bum-in test for manufacturing the disk drive.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein execution of the sequences of instructions by the processor causes the processor to further perform the step of:

determining parameter values from one of the plurality of retry tables for optimum performance of the disk drive during the intelligent burn-in test.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the error correction is performed during a read/write operation within a host system of the disk drive.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein each retry table determines a respective unique sequence of retry parameters to be retried with the respective sequence not changed for each retry table.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein firmware is not modified for using any of the plurality of retry tables during the error correction.

23. A system for performing error correction in a disk drive, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of retry tables, wherein the retry tables include different ranges of values for a same set of a plurality of parameters used during a plurality of retries such that two retry tables have at least one of different respective maximum values and different respective minimum values for different respective ranges of a given parameter in the two retry tables, and wherein the retry tables are not changed after being stored; and

means for selecting one of the retry tables to be used for the error correction.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of retry tables is stored in a memory unit apart from a disk of the disk drive.

25. The system of claim 23 , wherein the error correction is performed during an intelligent bum-in test for manufacturing the disk drive.

26. The system of claim 23 , wherein the error correction is performed during a read/write operation within a host system of the disk drive.

27. The system of claim 23 , wherein firmware is not modified for using any of the plurality of retry tables during the error correction.

28. The system of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of retry tables is stored in a maintenance cylinder of the disk drive.

29. The system of claim 23 , wherein each retry table determines a respective unique sequence of retry parameters to be retried with the respective sequence not changed for each retry table.