Disk drive start-up failure detection under disparate conditions

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for detecting disk drive start-up failure under disparate temperature conditions by employing a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the disk drive at start-up. A controller selects, in response to the measured temperature, a start-up failure timing corresponding to that measured temperature. The controller then detects whether the disk drive reaches operational speed within the selected start-up failure timing. Preferably, the temperature sensor is digital. The temperature sensor may be mounted on the drive electronics card, or on electronics in the disk enclosure. The controller may have a stored lookup table relating various temperatures to start-up failure timings for selecting a start-up failure timing corresponding to the measured temperature. This method allows selection of a motor torque constant that does not compromise normal operating performance based on cold start conditions.