image forming apparatus for example the storage unit 130 may be implemented in a flash read only memory rom in the storage unit 130 information about specifications of the hard disc drive 110 is stored the information about the specifications of the hard disc drive 110 may include a serial number a volume number a storage capacity of the hard disc drive 110 etc the storage capacity of the hard disc drive 110 may be recorded i e stored in the storage unit 130 in between each use of the hard disc drive 110 in particular the storage capacity of the hard disc drive 110 that is stored in the storage unit 130 includes information about an overall storage capacity of the hard disc drive 110 a used capacity of the hard disc drive 110 and a remaining capacity of the hard disc drive 110 when the hard disc drive 110 is attached to the image forming apparatus through the interface unit 120 the information i e the information about the specifications may be transmitted from the hard disc drive 110 to the image forming apparatus according to a communication e g a permission communication between the hard disc drive 110 and the image forming apparatus when the control unit 160 determines whether the information and a reference information value match the hard disc drive 110 may receive the permission communication from the control unit 160 and transmit data stored therein to the control unit 160.