A secondary boot code may be copied to memory during execution of a primary boot code, and executing the copied secondary boot code after completion of execution of said primary boot code. Access to the primary and said secondary boot code may be restricted during execution of the primary boot code and the copied secondary boot code. The copied secondary boot code may be verified after the secondary boot code is copied to the memory. Access to the primary boot code may be blocked or barred during execution of the copied secondary boot code. Access to the secondary boot code may also be blocked or barred after completion of execution of the copied secondary boot code. The memory may comprise double-data-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR). The primary and/or the secondary boot code may reside or be stored in FLASH memory.