windows not starting without dvd drive

Go into the bios & make sure it boots from the hard drive first.

If you have IDE type drives and you are connecting both the the same cable then you need to adjust the jumpers on the drives. Why would you want to run without the DVD drive connected. You need to explain what you are doing more completely.

Silly question maybe but are you absolutely sure it is the DVD drive you are disconnecting and not the hard drive? If it is, then make sure you make your hard drive is set to Master. Always pop back and let us know the outcome - thanks