Patent ID: 7460404

Claim:
A method for operating non-volatile storage, comprising: performing first boosting of at least one NAND string on a source side of a first word line before boosting the at least one NAND string on a drain side of a second word line, the second word line is on a drain side of the first word line, a plurality of word lines including the first and second word lines are associated with the at least one NAND string, and the at least one NAND string has a plurality of non-volatile storage elements; during the first boosting, applying a voltage to the first word line for providing a first non-volatile storage element of the plurality of non-volatile storage elements which is associated with the first word line in a conducting state, and applying a voltage to the second word line for providing a second non-volatile storage element of the plurality of non-volatile storage elements which is associated with the second word line in a conducting state; and performing second boosting of the at least one NAND string on the drain side of the second word line, after the first boosting, while applying a voltage to the first word line for providing the first non-volatile storage element in a non-conducting state, and while applying a program voltage to the second word line.