A processing system includes a memory coupled to a processor. The memory stores data blocks, with each data block having a separate associated checksum value stored along with the data block in the memory. The processor has a storage location that stores parity information for the data blocks, with the parity information having a plurality of parity blocks. Each parity block represents a parity of a corresponding set of data blocks. The parity blocks can be accessed for use in error detection and correction schemes used by the processing system.