Windows 7: Windows won't load if I remove optical drive (error code 0x490)

Here's my situation, I want to remove my optical drive (ASUS dvd/rw) as I never use it, however after I disconnected it Windows wont load. It begins to load and then flashes a blue screen and restarts. If I plug my optical drive back in everything is boots up fine. Does anyone know how I can remove my drive and still be able to boot?

Things I have tried (with no success):
- Disabling and uninstalling the drive from the control panel
- checking boot priority (SSD is my boot drive), optical drive is now completely removed from boot sequence in BIOS (it was 3rd)

In windows repair (following the restart from blue screen) I found this:
Root cause found
recent driver installation or uprgrade may be preventing the system from starting
Repair Action: system files integrity check and repair
Result: Failed
Error Code: 0x490

Why do you want to remove the optical drive even if you are not using it? Your options will be limited if you ever need to use it...

Can you boot into Safe Mode with it removed, or do you have the same problem?

• Use Advanced Boot Options
  
  
• Choose Safe Mode