Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for programming non-volatile storage. Methods involve identifying boot loader code stored in a first partition of a non-volatile storage, the boot loader code being marked as active, executing the boot loader code using one or more processors of the computing system, loading a firmware image to a second partition of the non-volatile storage, the second partition being separate from the first partition, and marking the firmware image as active. Methods further involve detecting a power loss event and, following a power cycle, determining that the firmware image is stored in the second partition and has been marked as active, and, in response to said determination, making a copy of the firmware image and storing the copy in the first partition.

Abstract: A method for improving disk drive performance by adaptively calculating skew values for each drive. During a production phase of the disk drive manufacturing process, skew values are calculated using measured seek times, then implemented to each drive. The calculation scheme permits slipped revolutions to occur during a percentage of the time so that skew values are not so high as to hinder high performance.