Patent ID: 7302581

Claim:
A storing apparatus for use with a computer-based system in which a first user can selectively protect a medium from reading and/or writing control by an access command with a second password, or permit access to the medium without inputting the second password, said apparatus comprising: a password preserving unit for preserving a first password for selecting protect access or permit access to information recorded on the medium, and the second password for access protection; and a password verifying unit which, when an access authorization is requested by entering a password, compares the entered password with the second password; if in agreement, issues an authorization, and if not, refuses to issue an authorization; and when an access authorization is requested without entering a password, compares the first password and the second password; if in agreement, issues an authorization, and if not, refuses to issue an authorization; wherein in the case where a same value has been preserved in said first password and said second password, said password verifying unit copies a value of said first password to the user input password and collates the same with said second password, thereby permitting an access.