Abstract: A system for preventing data loss when volatile memory is used to store data either internal or external to a host computer. In the preferred embodiment, the system provides uninterrupted power to the volatile memory and to a non-volatile storage device such as a magnetic disk drive or other non-volatile memory. Upon loss of commercial power, host computer shut down, or manual initiation, the data stored in the volatile memory will be automatically backed-up to the non-volatile storage device via a high bandwidth data path. Under normal conditions, data stored in volatile memory are accessible by the host computer using a high bandwidth data path.