Help with first time boot-up

[irobot10]

Can someone guide me (or point to a reliable link...) about "what happens next" when I power up my first build for the first time.

Then I have a few specific questions-
1) Does the system automatically go into BIOS?
2) What are the things to be checked / set in BIOS?
3) How / when to load the OS?
4) How to make the system identify my 150G Raptor as a OS HDD and the second 320G as a storage HDD?
5) I read somewhere that one should not connect the floppy drive until after loading OS or else it will mess up the drive selection. Is that true? Does it apply to optical drives too? I have 2 HDDs, 2 Optical drives and 1 floppy drive/card reader combo.
6) In the whole process is there any time when I would need to connect to the internet? Is it safe to do it without the security software loaded? Or should I absolutely load it before connecting to the net?

Sorry about the long list of (maybe dumb) questions. But I am a little nervous before switching power into $1700 worth of hardware that I have been saving for, for a long time...

Thank you!

 

[zagood]

1) Press a button during loading to get into BIOS. Usually "Delete" but check your mobo manual.

2) For you first boot with no OS, you'll want to adjust your memory timings and voltage, and set boot order to 1 - CD/DVD 2- HD.

3) After making sure you can get into BIOS.

4) Attach Raptor to SATA-0 and 320gb to SATA-1 (or whatever naming convention your mobo uses). Also in BIOS set boot order of HD's to the correct order.

5) Don't worry about the floppy. 90% of the time it'll be fine if it's installed already. If you're concerned, just disable it in the BIOS, but leave the cable plugged in.

6) Just install updates as the first thing you do once you get into windows. If you're totally paranoid, leave it unplugged until you're ready to do your updates.

It's really not that hard. Just pay attention and don't stress out. If you get too stressed you'll do something dumb like spill your beer on the video card. The number one thing I can recommend is to make sure you've plugged in all your power cables. Can't tell you how many times I've freaked out because a new rig wouldn't post, and it was all because a 12v or HD cable wasn't plugged in.

-z