A magnetic recording and reproducing device includes: a magnetic recording
medium in which a magnetic recording layer is formed in a concavo-convex
pattern so that tracks are formed by convex portions of a predetermined
track width and arranged in parallel in the track width direction; a
heating head for heating the magnetic recording medium to partially
reduce coercivity of the tracks; a recording head for applying a
recording magnetic field to a heated portion of the magnetic recording
medium to record magnetic data on the tracks; and a reproducing head for
detecting a reproducing magnetic field of the tracks. In this
configuration, an effective recording area has an effective recording
width that is equal to or more than the track width, and equal to or less
than a sum of the track width and a doubled value of width of concave
portions between the tracks.