Embodiments of the invention include a method for modifying firmware settings within a data storage controller, such as a data storage controller used in a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) storage array. The method includes extracting a sub-module from a firmware image stored in the controller, stripping off the sub-module's header, decompressing the remaining compressed image by replacing the stripped sub-module header and an extended image header in the compressed image with an extended header image that allows conventional decompression, and separating the decompressed image into its executable code and at least one settings group. The method reinitializes the executable code to restore its validity, modifies one or more values of one or more settings groups, creates a new sub-module using the reinitialized executable code and the modified settings groups, and replaces the original settings groups in the firmware image with the modified settings groups, thereby modifying the firmware settings of the data storage controller.