A method, system and program for mitigating the effects of one or more inoperable
servo readers used for data track positioning on a tape drive are disclosed. A
track following servo system can compensate for an inoperable servo reader by collecting
and measuring tape distortion information from the tape involved. The track following
servo system can quantify the tape distortion information and produce a tracking
offset value. The track following servo system can then position an operable servo
reader over the tape with the compensating offset value applied.
