To prevent unauthorized appropriation (circulation) of program date.

Insertion/withdrawal of an SD card into/from an SD card slot is monitored constantly (S101) and when the SD card is inserted into an SD card slot for starting a program (S102), a decision is made whether program data is stored in the card or not (S103). If the program data does not exist, the program is started normally (S107). When program data of a printer/scanner exists (S103), the program data is developed to an RAM and executed. When withdrawal of the SD card is detected (S105) after insertion of the SD card is detected at least once (S102, S103), a decision is made that the operation is not normal and the apparatus is disabled (S106).

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