SATA working, PATA not?

[T34P075]

Here's my desktop setup:

 

nForce mobo (not sure which chipset)

2 IDE HDDs

2 SATA HDDs

2 IDE CD/DVD Roms

 

ok i think that's really the relevant info. I installed the newest Leo4all (great release, highly recommend). I installed on my SATA HDD (channel 2). I installed using my IDE DVD rom (channel 0 Master). Both IDE HDDs are on IDE channel 1. If I unplug the IDE HDDs (can leave the DVD roms plugged in), I can boot leopard just fine from the SATA HDD. however, if I try to boot with them plugged in, the system acts as if it can't see the SATA HDD, tries to boot from the IDE drive, and fails.

 

As a side note, i keep getting +HFS Error when i try to boot without the install CD inserted, but it boots fine if the install cd is in the drive. I'm sure i could fix that but too scared to screw things up and its really no big deal. I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

 

Thanks in advance!