A method and apparatus for providing a user selectable start-up current in a disk drive are provided. A user may select a relatively high start-up current to provide a relatively fast start-up time in a disk drive. Alternatively, the user may select a relatively low maximum current draw by the hard drive to enable a relatively low power, low cost power supply to be used in connection with the hard drive, for use with applications in which a relatively long start-up time is acceptable. In connection with applications in which a low cost power supply is to be used, the maximum current drawn by the disk drive may be limited to the amount of current required by the disk drive during seek operations.