PURPOSE: To automatically set an option card by recognizing stored contents on the option card, calculating a condition for set-up optimum to a system environment, setting the condition to a set-up register and outputting an operation instruction.

CONSTITUTION: According to the activation of the option card, a CPU in the main body of a personal computer takes out a card ID from a card ID memory 104 through an interface circuit 102 under the control of a card control software 101. According to the card control software 101, the CPU refers the information of the card ID memory 104 and a machine ID (106) of the personal computer and calculates optimum set-up information from a set-up table 107. According to the card control software 101, the CPU writes the set-up information to a set-up register 103 and outputs the operation instruction to an operation circuit 105. Thus, the set-up can be automatically executed and an operation defect caused by a setting miss can be eliminated.