First build help please.

[46 the goat]

Hello everyone, thanks to all who answered my previous question.
This is my first build and I need some more help please.
My build consists of :
Asus P7H55-M-USB3 motherboard
Intel i3
4Gb Dominator 1600Mhz ram
WD 640Gb 6Gb HDD
Corsair 550VX PSU
LiteOn optical drive
Antec 300 case.
I have assembled the P/C but as yet have not switched on until I have asked some questions.
1) I followed the instructions about fitting the CPU in the socket eg. matching the locating pins with the cut outs in the CPU,lowering the cover and then pushing the lever down into its locked position. I had to use quite a bit of pressure on the locking lever to get it to close, is this correct or have I done something wrong ?
2) I have connected the sata cable from the HDD to one of the 6Gb sata headers on the motherboard. I have connected the sata cable from the optcal drive to a sata 2 header on the motherboard. Is this correct so far?
3) When I switch on what should I see if the system is working OK?
4) Have I got to alter the BIOS to load an operating system from the optical drive or is this already set up, and then do I need to change it again to to boot the operating system from the HDD ?

5)I want to use Windows 7 64b as the operating system,but have as yet not puchased a copy. My friend says he will let me borrow an XP operating system disc that I can load and run in Demo mode, but not try to register it. What does he mean ?
Sorry if these questions are foolish, I've got a lot to learn.
Thanks
46 fan.

 

[stulid]

1) sounds normal.

2)thats ok.

3)the system check screen, it will then halt saying something like cmos defaults loaded.

4)enter the bios, set the time and date, turn on or off any onboard stuff you may not need and set the boot order, it needs to see the dvd drive first then harddrive second.