Abstract: This specification describes transferring a partial block of data with first and last words that are partial words from a processor and storing it in a memory protected by an error correcting code that requires the words to be stored in the memory as whole words. Prior to the initiation of the transferring and storage procedure, the memory is accessed and data words corresponding to the partial words in the partial block of data are fetched and placed in registers. Thereafter, during the transferring of the partial words, the fetched words are combined with the partial words to generate full words. Error correction check bits are added to these generated full words and the combination is stored into the memory.