Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for inhibiting data writing to an optical disc drive connected to a computer. A BIOS confirms presence of a security function of an optical disc drive. When the optical disc drive possesses the security function, the BIOS delivers a command to the optical disc drive to set it to a read-only mode. The optical disc drive that has received the command sets the drive per se to operate in the read-only mode. Since a command for setting it to the read-only mode and a command for releasing it are delivered to the optical disc drive only by the BIOS, when a control is transferred to an Operating System (OS), setting of the read-only mode cannot be released by the OS and other OS's, or application software.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for inhibiting data writing to an optical disc drive connected to a computer. A BIOS confirms presence of a security function of an optical disc drive. When the optical disc drive possesses the security function, the BIOS delivers a command to the optical disc drive to set it to a read-only mode. The optical disc drive that has received the command sets the drive per se to operate in the read-only mode. Since a command for setting it to the read-only mode and a command for releasing it are delivered to the optical disc drive only by the BIOS, when a control is transferred to an Operating System (OS), setting of the read-only mode cannot be released by the OS and other OS's, or application software.

Abstract: An information processing system (IPS) including an external storage device having a drive control unit for performing reading/writing operations on a recording medium in response to a request from an operation system, in which the drive control unit transmits to the operation system a connection state response indicating that the external storage device is connected to the information processing system, when the drive control unit receives from the operation system a connection state request. The IPS includes: a power control unit for suspending a power supply to the drive control unit; a request substitutional receiving unit for receiving, in place of the drive control unit, the connection state request from the operation system when the power supply to the drive control unit is suspended; and a request substitutional replying unit for returning the connection state response indicating that the external storage device is connected to the information processing system.

Abstract: A method for switching between boot devices in an information processing unit devoid of a human machine interface for inputting, the steps of short-circuiting an output port and an input port, outputting a verification signal from the output port at the time of powering on or restarting the information processing unit, determining whether or not the verification signal is input to the input port, switching the OS boot source to a second boot device if the verification signal is input to the input port, and switching the OS boot source to a first boot device if the verification signal is not input to the input port, is provided for.

Abstract: A method for switching between boot devices in an information processing unit devoid of a human machine interface for inputting, the steps of short-circuiting an output port and an input port, outputting a verification signal from the output port at the time of powering on or restarting the information processing unit, determining whether or not the verification signal is input to the input port, switching the OS boot source to a second boot device if the verification signal is input to the input port, and switching the OS boot source to a first boot device if the verification signal is not input to the input port, is provided for.