When image data or the like is recorded by using a conventional control program which now becomes available, we encounter a problem that the image reproduction is abruptly broken. In order to solve the problem, the present invention proposes a method in which immediately after the recording operation is started, a recording medium is searched to find a vacant region of which length is too short to carry out seamless recording (vacant region having a length shorter than the minimum recording length) and the region is set to a recording prohibiting region, and thereafter data recording is carried out in a general manner. As a method of setting the vacant region to the recording prohibiting region, there is proposed one in which the vacant region on the recording medium is attached with information indicating that the region has been already occupied. Alternatively, the region may be regarded as a defect region and the region is registered in a defect register region of the recording medium.