Magnetic recording apparatus with power conservation feature

A magnetic recording apparatus comprising:

• a recording medium;
• scanning means for scanning tracks of the recording medium for recording information;
• read/write means for reading/writing data with respect to each of a plurality of recording units on the recording medium through the scanning means;
• a buffer memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the read/write means and an external device;
• a controller for detecting that the buffer memory is in a situation in which the buffer memory cannot store data any more when the read/write means performs reading, and that the buffer memory is in a situation in which data is not stored in the buffer memory when the read/write means performs writing;
• and
• control means for performing control such that supply of drive power to the read/write means is prevented, in response to detection by the controller that the buffer memory cannot store data, and for performing control such that the read/write means is supplied with the drive power for a predetermined time period before a time point when reading/writing of data is started again with respect to a recording unit on which the read/write means failed to perform reading/writing.