File management method having first and second processing modes for storing file type information for discrimination between first and second processing modes in recording medium as file management information associated with file for file management. In first processing mode, when data in the form of file is written on a recording medium and a write error occurs, replacement processing to another write area is performed to write the data in another area. In second processing mode, when write error occurs, the replacement processing to other write area is not performed to write the data. Method includes reading file type information associated with a file to be processed from recording medium, converting the file type from file type indicative of first processing mode to file type indicative of second processing mode, and writing the file type after conversion in recording medium as file management information associated with the file to be processed.