Hard decoding methods in data storage devices

An apparatus comprising:

• a non-volatile storage;
• and
• a decoder configured to decode data read from the non-volatile storage, wherein the decoder is configured to:
• first determine a first plurality of error candidates for the data based on a first component code;
• second determine, independently from the first determining, a second plurality of error candidates for the data based on a second component code, wherein:
• a number of the plurality of error candidates in the first and second pluralities of error candidates corresponds to an error correction capability of the decoder,
• each of the error candidates corresponds to respective location in the data, and
• the number of the plurality of error candidates in the first and second pluralities of error candidates is less than a number of potential error locations in the data;
• third determine, based on results from the first and second determining, whether a first success condition is satisfied based on an identification of at least one of both the first and second plurality of error candidates that both correspond to the same potential error location in the data;
• when the first success condition is not satisfied, fourth determine whether a second success condition is satisfied based on test implementing a suggested correction at one of the first plurality of error candidates and identify another potential error location in the data;
• and
• correct errors in the data based on one of the first or second success conditions.