Data are stored in cells of a flash memory by assigning a first portion of
the data to be stored in a first cell and a second portion of the data to
be stored in one or more second cells. The first cell is programmed to
store the first portion in accordance with the second portion. The second
cell(s) is/are programmed to store the second portion. At least a portion
of the programming of the first cell is effected before any of the
programming of the second cell(s).