An information storage system has structure with a head that can effect information transfers with respect to a storage medium. According to one feature, a control portion monitors a characteristic of information read from the storage medium, and can take action to reduce the likelihood of non-recoverable errors based on the characteristic. According to a different feature, the control portion moves the head to a position adjacent a portion of a surface on the storage medium, waits while moving the head relative to the surface, and then moves the head to another position adjacent a different portion of the surface. According to another feature, the control portion calculates a distance of the head from the surface based on information read from the surface, and determines based on this distance whether the head or the storage medium may fail to satisfy a criteria.