An information processing apparatus includes a basic file manager that manages files stored on a storage medium using basic file management information stored on the medium; a specific file manager that manages a file of a specific type, among the managed files, using specific file management information stored on the medium as one of the files managed by the basic file manager; a reference-information manager that stores reference information relating to the specific file management information, the reference information having meanings corresponding to predetermined information items provided for each of the files and included in the basic file management information, and that updates the reference information in accordance with updating of the specific file management information; and a validity checker to check validity of the specific file management information by comparing the stored reference information with the information items having corresponding meanings in the basic file management information.