A head protection circuit that protects a write head and a
magnetoresistive (MR) read head by bypassing electrostatic charge applied
to the write head when the power of a preamplifier is turned "off"
includes: a first differential mode switch and a first differential mode
resistance connected between each end of the write head; and a first
common mode switch and a first common mode resistance connected between
one end of the write head and a ground potential. The first differential
mode switch and the first common mode switch installed in the
preamplifier are turned "on" when the preamplifier is turned "off" and
vice versa. The head protection circuit has an effect of protecting the
write head and the MR read head by bypassing common mode electrostatic
charge and differential electrostatic charge generated at the ends of the
write head when the preamplifier is turned "off."