HP laptop won't boot without HD (was HD Controller issue?)

Archived from groups: comp.sys.hp.hardware (More info?)

Why is it that my laptop won't boot without the HD in place? I've
never had this problem with any PC - though I have to admit I've never
tried it with a laptop before.

The reason being that I'd rather run knoppix off my laptop than try and
fix the irritating problem I described in HD Controller Issue (previous
post)

I'm no novice as such - I've been working with the internals of PC's
for almost a decade. I've disabled it in the BIOS, changed the boot
sequence etc and yet it still searches for the HD without looking for
the CD drive.

Am I overlooking something stupid in the BIOS? Is it a jumper setting
on the laptop motherboard (do I need to get my soldering iron out?) or
is this a perminant thing I can do nothing about?

Thanks in advance for anyone who's got any ideas or experience with
this problem.