The invention permits extension or elimination of the flying edge on disk surfaces of data storage devices with rotating disks to stabilize the gliding behavior of the read/write heads. The method and arrangement in accordance with the invention are advantageous above all for encapsulated rigid disk storage devices, which are generally known by the name "Winchester", and primarily also for such devices whose heads (4) touch the disk surface (3) and/or where the heads (4) perform lubricant distribution functions and remain on the disk surface (3) in rest condition. In order to obtain stable gliding conditions, the flying edge (9) is displaced beyond the electronic limits of the positioning unit (5) for the heads (4) up to the maximum mechanical limits during operation by wiping or conditioning of the disk surface using the read/write heads in certain cycles or at certain time intervals. In addition, further displacement beyond the mechanical limits is achieved by elastic restoring elements (12, 12'; 13, 13'). The flying edge extension or elimination performed means that the rail edge of the head (4) forming the flying edge does not come to rest against a flying edge (9) even at standstill. One-sided creeping-in of lubricant material at standstill is thus not possible.
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