A multi-mode image forming apparatus and method have a first mode which can be used by all users and a second mode which is available to authorized users only. The second mode is induced in response to a request from a management apparatus which is connected image forming apparatus. A reception arrangement is arranged to receive updating data sent from the management apparatus in the second mode and to store this data in a memory from which a non-volatile memory of the image forming apparatus can be updated at a later time. This arrangement permits file data to be transferred from the management apparatus to a HDD in the image forming apparatus. During an update, this data can be read out from the HDD to an EEPROM (non-volatile memory) so that even if the updating operation fails, the time for repeating the updating can be minimized.