Patent ID: 7940627

Claim:
A data recording apparatus for executing overwrite to a disc having a partition on which a file can be overwritten according to a predetermined file system format, wherein, in the predetermined file system format, it is permitted to record space area description information, which manages a space area in a partition when the overwrite is used, in the partition as well as it is prohibited to record the space area description information in the partition when replay only is used, the data recording apparatus comprising: disc initialization means for recording the space area description information, which manages the space area in the partition, on the disc when the disc is initialized; data recording means for searching a space area in the partition referring to the space area description information recorded on the disc and recording file data to the searched space area as well as updating the description information; space area description information concealing means for concealing the space area description information so as to be used for replay only; and disc discrimination means for detecting whether or not a disc is overwritable when the disc is loaded and determining whether or not overwrite can be executed making use of the space area description information.