Compensation for disk mode disturbances during self-writing of servo data is provided in a manner that accounts for differences in orientation between the disk surface from which position information is derived and the disk surface on which servo data is written. Microactuators corresponding to upper surfaces of disks may have a wiring polarity that is out of phase with the wiring polarity of microactuators corresponding to upper surfaces of disks so that disk mode compensation signals supplied to the microactuators produce motion in opposite directions. The servo control system may supply signals to microactuators individually and select the polarities of those signals to account for differences in orientation between the disk surface from which position information is derived and the disk surface on which servo data is written.