Can't startup WITHOUT option key

I have a Powerbook G4 800 with maxed ram running 10.4.11.

It has a new hard drive that is partitioned(160 gig partitioned into 110 and 30).

Recently it won't start up unless I engage the Startup Manager by pressing Option at startup.

When I do that it produces the only viable system and then it starts up when I press the arrow.

Any ideas?

Hi have you tried to select the boot drive in "start up disk" in system prefs?

Of course. I've been using Mac's since 1992.

That doesn't seem to make a difference. Its like the start up manager is whacked, but reinstalling the whole system just to replace a faulty SM is too much since I usually just put the book to sleep. And hitting option only adds about 40 seconds to the start up.