Embodiments of the invention allow a heater to reduce the clearance between a head element section and the magnetic section while reducing the risk of collision between the head element section and the magnetic disk during load/unload. In one embodiment, an HDD judges whether a heater is ON or OFF after the load process is started. If the heater is found set to ON, the HDD sets the heater to OFF. With the heater kept OFF, the HDD starts the actuator pivoting. If the heater is found set to OFF, the HDD moves the actuator from the parking position to the magnetic disk with the heater kept OFF. Upon completion of the load process, the HDD goes to the subsequent process. Since the heater is OFF during load, the risk of collision between the head element section and the magnetic disk is reduced.