Most CompactFlash cards by default identify themselves as removable media instead of fixed disk.
SanDisk used to provide a utility (when asked) under NDA to change the type bit to Fixed disk.
It has however changed it stance on this and now refuses to provide it. This utility (ATCFWCHG.COM) can be found here:
You will need to boot DOS and run it with the CF configured as either the master on the primary IDE interface or the master on the secondary interface.
1- Get a USB stick
2- Use UNetbootin
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/unetbootin-windows-latest.exe - to install FreeDOS to the USB stick
3- Copy ATCFWCHG.com to the USB stick
4- Boot your PC from USB stick
5- Execute in DOS:
(To set the card to fixed disk/true-ide mode) If the card is on the primary IDE channel (which is highly recommended), type:
ATCFWCHG.COM /P /F
If the card is on the secondary IDE channel, type:
ATCFWCHG.COM /S /F
Revert:
(To set it back to removable disk mode) If the card is on the primary IDE channel, type:
ATCFWCHG.COM /P /R
If the card is on the secondary IDE channel, type:
ATCFWCHG.COM /S /R
Don't forget to issue fdisk /mbr afterwards;
Re-partition your CF with fdisk and then use the /MBR option of FDISK.EXE (from DOS version 5 or later) against the CF card:
on DOS prompt:
fdisk /mbr
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