An information processing apparatus is disclosed which allows image data to be used commonly by a plurality of personal computers. A check box of a copy option setting window is selected in order to delete AV contents of an original recorded on a HDD after the AV contents are copied from the HDD into an external recording medium. A check box is selected in order to set so that AV contents recorded as compression data of the MPEG 2 system on the HDD are copied onto the external recording medium after they are converted into compression data of the MPEG 1 system which has compatibility with a video CD.