An output device can be quickly and easily set to the operating parameters required for a particular output process according to data received from a host device. The output device has RAM that temporarily stores the operating parameters, a memory initialization processor that initializes the volatile memory in response to a specific input, a controller that stores operating parameter values for controlling the output device into the RAM in response to one or more first commands from the host device. A second command from the host device causes a first operating parameter controller to save the operating parameters from RAM into a flash ROM. A second operating parameter controller responds to a third command from the host device by storing information into the flash ROM indicative of whether operating parameter data in the flash ROM should be automatically loaded after the memory initialization process. A third operating parameter controller is effective for restoring the operating parameters from flash ROM to RAM after the memory initialization process only when the information in the flash ROM indicates that operating parameter data stored in the flash ROM should be automatically loaded. A particular operating environment defined by the parameters stored in nonvolatile memory can therefore be quickly reset en masse.