US Patent 7233734 Audio visual data recording/reproducing apparatus

In a recording/reproducing apparatus using a hard disk drive (HDD), a connection confirmation/processing program (program for confirming connection with an external equipment and conducting processing required for that connection) which can be executed during starting time of the HDD is stored in a non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory) of a microcomputer, and a recording/reproduction control program which cannot be executed until the HDD becomes accessible and is greatly affected by extension of the functions and modification of the specification is stored in the HDD.