This invention discloses a data storage system for accessing data stored in a data storage medium. The data storage system includes a motor-head assembly controlled to activate a vertical movement for loading and unloading at least a pickup head supported thereon to access the data medium in the data storage medium. For a specific data-storage system configuration, the motor-head assembly further includes a rotating motor for rotating the pickup head when the pickup head is loaded onto the data storage medium. In another system configuration, the data storage system implemented with a motor to move the data storage medium in at least one linear direction or for rotating the data storage medium. The motor-head assembly further includes a vertical-position locking hook for automatically pulling away the pickup head from the data storage media when the motor-head assembly is unloaded from the data storage medium. The vertical-position locking linkage further automatically unlock the pickup head in an unconstrained compliance state next to the data storage medium when the motor-head assembly is loaded to the data storage medium.