A storage medium includes a first area configured to have data stored therein
in
a first recording format; a second area configured to have data stored therein
in a second recording format; a management table configured to manage a replacement
area for a defect area in a data area in the storage medium, the management table
being stored in the second area; an alert track stored in the first area; and a
management data configured to manage the managing table and the alert track, the
management data stored in the first area, wherein an end position of the first
area is set a predetermined distance apart from a start position of the second area.