Apparatus and method for detecting read/write gap failure and switching to an alternative read/write gap

摘要

A magnetic storage device for storing and retrieving data from a magnetic medium such as a magnetic tape. The magnetic storage device includes a first write gap, a first read gap and at least one of a second write gap and a second read gap with each gap operatively associated with the magnetic medium. A controller is coupled to each gap. The controller senses an error from a gap and stores an error flag.