Patent ID: 8341337

Claim:
A data storage device (DSD) connected to a host, the DSD comprising: a non-volatile memory (NVM) operable to store system data for accessing the non-volatile memory; a semiconductor memory; and control circuitry operable to: determine whether to receive the system data from the host or to read the system data from the NVM, wherein it is determined to receive the system data from the host if the system data stored in the NVM is corrupted or unrecoverable; and when it is determined to receive the system data from the host: receive the system data from the host; store the received system data in the semiconductor memory; receive a command from the host to boot the DSD; and read the system data from the semiconductor memory to boot the DSD; and when it is determined to read the system data from the NVM, read the system data from the NVM to boot the DSD.