A method is provided that minimizes the seek time necessary for relocating
bad sectors found during data processing. During standard data processing
in the prime disk area, identified bad sectors are saved in memory until
after all of the data processing has been completed. The bad sectors are
then relocated from memory in a batch process, thereby requiring only a
single seek command to the defect management area. This procedure reduces
the time penalty in the number of relocations to a near constant time and
avoids a linear time penalty.