Abstract: A drive apparatus for driving an information recording medium encased in a cartridge has a protection element for protecting the recording medium. The drive apparatus has an action member for cooperating with the protection element. The action member is projected out of the apparatus when the cartridge is inserted into the apparatus, and remains in the apparatus when the cartridge is detached from the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a drive unit and a cartridge mounting unit disposed on a base body of the drive unit. The cartridge mounting unit han an operation button disposed at a position which is furthest apart from the attached cartridge and opposite to the base body with respect to the attached cartridge. When the recording medium is a flexible disk, the disk is pressed onto a recording or reproducing head by a pad. An arm for supporting the pad allows the pressure exerted by the pad on the disk to increase with the rotation of the disk.