With continued reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, the optical disk 400 may be stored in an optical data storage system which included a plurality of other optical disks. These optical disks may also be stored in multiple physical boxes, and accessed when writing data to, or reading data from, a given one of the optical disks. However, as noted above, optical disks are susceptible to data transfer problems caused by scratches, fingerprints, and other environmental problems that result from the optical disks being used. Some specific locations on optical disks may even have systematically higher failure probability than other locations thereon, perhaps due to contamination or contact by the storage system mechanics with the surface of the disk.