Patent ID: 7047528

Claim:
An information processing apparatus having program installing means for receiving identification information of a first external processing apparatus in response to a connection of the first external processing apparatus and installing a first control program corresponding to the first external processing apparatus into said information processing apparatus, comprising: a discriminating unit, arranged for discriminating whether or not, when the first control program is installed by the program installing means, a second control program corresponding to a second external processing apparatus which has already been stored in said information processing apparatus becomes inconsistent; and a control unit, arranged for controlling the program installing means to start installing the first control program into said information processing apparatus if said discriminating unit discriminates that the second control program does not become inconsistent when the first control program is installed, and for updating the second control program to avoid becoming inconsistent and then controlling said program installing means to install the first control program into said information processing apparatus if said discriminating unit discriminates that the second control program becomes inconsistent when the first control program is installed.