Grey Screen/ Defaulting to Windows

I have a first-generation Mac Pro 1.1 with the latest boot ROM (MP11.005C.B08) and SMC Version (1.7f10), 6GB of RAM w/ OS X 10.5.4 installed and Windows XP Pro installed on its own internal drive under Boot Camp. Although I have the Macintosh HD selected as the default startup drive under both OS X and XP, whenever I startup the Mac, it gives me the grey screen for a long time, maybe 2 or 3 minutes before finally defaulting to the Windows installation. The only way I can startup in OS X is if I manually hold down the option key during startup and select the Macintosh HD. Only on the EXTREMELY rare occasion will the machine actually default to OS X like it is supposed to. Ironically, if I just do a restart it will restart in OS X without any issues. It is only when I power on that the issue occurs.
I have tried everything I know of to fix this, but nothing seems to work. I have selected the startup disk over and over in both OS X and XP, I have repaired disk permissions, flashed the PRAM, but to no avail. It seems that since I installed the 10.5.4 update, the issue really became worse. It would always do this on occassion, but I'd just have to reselect the Macintosh HD either in OS X or XP and then it would start working again. Now, it only starts in OS X when it feels like it, which just isn't an option.
Does anyone have a solution for this problem?
Message was edited by: GuitarSlinger

Zapping the PRAM/NVRAM will wipe out the startup disk setting and require resetting it. So that should be a one time event.
Repairing your OS X drive would be first thing to do, first with Disk Utility (you need to boot from another hard drive, or at worst, the DVD) AND follow up with a 3rd party repair utility.
Try cloning your OS X drive to another drive. You should be making a bootable backup already, along with TimeMachine. SuperDuper or even Disk Utility Restore will copy a drive nicely.
I assume you have the OS Switcher in XP installed, ie, "BootCamp control panel" which should also be in your Taskbar. If you set that to OS X volume, does it not boot properly? or still reverts to Windows?
Sounds like your OS X drive is slow to spin up possibly. Are you still using the OEM drive your MP came with? I'd look into a new and better drive if you are, WD Caviar 640GB has replaced my Raptor drives, both faster and runs cool and quiet.
Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro 4.6.2 would be good choices for 3rd party disk repair, probably TTPro as 5.0 is due out and would be free upgrade. Or TechTool Deluxe
http://www.alsoft.com
http://www.micromat.com
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

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