Activating an operating system of a computer in response to an operation of power switch of a medium drive without turned on a main switch of the computer

1. A computer comprising:

a main switch of the computer;

a medium drive;

a power switch of the medium drive; and

a controller configured to activate an operating system of the computer in response to a change of the power switch from off to on when the main switch is off.

2. A computer comprising:

a main switch of the computer;

a medium drive;

a power switch of the medium drive; and

a controller configured to activate an operating system of the computer in response to an operation of the power switch when the main switch is off wherein said medium drive reproduces data recorded in a video recording medium, and said controller activates a video reproduction software after activating the operating system.

3. A computer comprising:

a main switch of the computer system;

a medium drive, having a reproduction switch, configured to reproduce data recorded in a recording medium;

a power switch of the medium drive;

a determination unit configured to determine the type of the recording medium in response to an operation of the power switch when the main switch is turned off; and

a controller configured to issue a reproduction command to said medium drive in response to an operation of the reproduction switch when it is determined that the recording medium is an audio recording medium, and activate an operating system of the computer and a video reproduction software when it is determined that the recording medium is a video recording medium.

4. The computer according to claim 3 , wherein said controller deactivates said video reproduction software when the computer is turned off.

5. The computer according to claim 3 , wherein said controller supplies power only to devices designed to reproduce the audio recording medium when it is determined that the recording medium is the audio recording medium.

6. The computer according to claim 3 , wherein said controller, when it is determined that the recording medium is the video recording medium, supplies power to first devices designed to reproduce the video recording medium and second devices designed not to reproduce the video recording medium, and sets said second devices in a power-saving state.

7. A computer comprising:

a power switch of the computer;

an activation switch for a specific function;

a controller, which is operated when the computer is not powered, configured to identify either said power switch or said activation switch, activate an operating system of the computer in response to an operation of said power switch, and supply power to devices relating to the specific function in response to an operation of said activation switch; and

a medium drive configured to reproduce an audio recording medium and a video recording medium, and wherein

said activation switch includes a medium drive power switch and a reproduction switch, and

said controller is configured to:

determine a type of the recording medium, if it is determined that the recording medium is the audio recording medium;

issue a reproduction command to said medium drive in response to an operation of the reproduction switch, when it is determined that the recording medium is the video recording medium;

activate the operating system of the computer, and activate a video reproduction software in response to the operation of said reproduction switch.

8. The computer according to claim 7 , wherein said controller activates the operating system and supplies power to all devices of the computer in response to an operation of said activation switch, and then sets devices other than devices relating to the specific function to a power-saving mode.

9. The computer according to claim 7 , further comprising a memory configured to store a specific software which is activated without activating the operating system, and wherein

said activation switch includes a specific software activation switch, and

said controller is configured to activate said specific software in response to an operation of said specific software activation switch without activating the operating system.

10. A computer comprising:

a power switch of the computer;

an activation switch for a specific function; and

a controller, which is operated when the computer is not powered, configured to:

identify either said power switch or said activation switch;

activate an operating system of the computer in response to an operation of said power switch;

and supply power only to devices relating to the specific function in response to an operation of said activation switch.

11. The computer according to claim 10 , wherein said controller activates the operating system and supplies power to all devices of the computer in response to an operation of said activation switch, and then sets devices other than devices relating to the specific function to a power-saving mode.

12. The computer according to claim 10 , further comprising a medium drive configured to reproduce an audio recording medium and a video recording medium, and wherein

said activation switch includes a medium drive power switch and a reproduction switch, and

said controller is configured to:

determine a type of the recording medium, if it is determined that the recording medium is the audio recording medium;

issue a reproduction command to said medium drive in response to an operation of the reproduction switch, if it is determined that the recording medium is the video recording medium;

activate an operating system of the computer;

and activate a video reproduction software in response to the operation of said reproduction switch.

13. The computer according to claim 10 , further comprising a memory configured to store a specific software which is activated without activating the operating system, and wherein

said activation switch includes a specific software activation switch, and

said controller is configured to activate said specific software in response to an operation of said specific software activation switch without activating the operating system.