We report the use of CoCrW seed layer (SL) for making the fine grain granular structure and high crystalline orientation of CoCrPt-oxide magnetic recording layer. It is found that CoCrW SL should be of amorphouslike structure to make fine grain of CoCrPt-oxide magnetic layer. Moreover, the smooth surface of CoCrW SL provides high crystalline orientation of the CoCrPt-oxide magnetic layer. (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3072754]