Abstract: A method for handling data in a plurality of data storage disks having user data sectors and corresponding parity sectors, the method being used when the disks are being operated in a non-degraded or a degraded mode wherein a non-volatile RAM is used in an array control processor which controls the operation of such disks. When new data is to be written into the array, the non-volatile RAM stores information identifying the array, the starting sector into which data is to be written and the number of sectors to be used for writing the new data so that parity and data entries in corresponding sectors can be matched when a power failure occurs. Further, when opening a new array, the data and parity entries in corresponding sectors can be matched and verified, the operation for such matching being performed in between other operations that are being performed by the control processors (i.e., in the "background" thereof).