Ok I've not got static IP address on my hdd install, by doing the following:-
edit /etc/init.d/networking
Change the first "ifup -a" to "ifup --force -a"

cd cd /etc/rc5.d/
ln -s /etc/init.d/networking S90networking

Changing /etc/init.d/networking is a bit ugly, but it works.

You can also add other links to /etc/rc5.d/ for other services at boot, eg ssh:-
ln -s /etc/init.d/ssh S99ssh