Information recording and reproducing apparatus for formatting a rewritable recording medium by an easy formatting method

An information recording and reproducing apparatus using a rewritable recording medium having a user data area, a track divided into a plurality of packets is defined in the user data area by being subjected to an initial formatting process before use so that data is recorded in the user data area on an individual packet basis, said information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

• easy formatting means for formatting a blank rewritable recording medium without defining the packets in the user data area so that only information regarding the track is recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the initial formatting process;
• position reading means for reading time information previously recorded on the user data area of the unformatted blank rewritable recording medium, the time information representing position information in the user data area;
• and
• recording means for recording data in the user area on an individual packet basis, the recording being performed in accordance with the information regarding the track recorded on the rewritable recording medium that has been formatted by the easy formatting means and the position information obtained by the position reading means, the recording means further recording information necessary for carrying out recording after the easy formatting means has completed formatting the blank rewritable recording medium.