NewBie to DVI-D and HDMI....Need Help

I have just purchase a system using a BioStar TF7050-M2 MoBo and a Samsung 216BW wide screen Monitor(DVI-D and DB-15 VGA inputs). And I don't know the first thing about Digital video, digital interfaces, an such. I am using the integrated GPU(GeForce 7050PV/630a), but have only been able to get the VGA to work, the MoBo also has an HDMI output port. I am using Windows 2000 Pro right now, but will be installing XP-64 Pro. I figured the BIOS should detect the HDMI connected to my monitor. I have also worked under the assumption that DVI-D or HDMI only works with the appropriate drivers and OS. The MoBo came with a HDMI to DVI-D adapter and I also have an HDMI to DVI-D cable. I have tried both the Adapter and Cable. My questions are mainly this:

Will the Digital output display the POST and/or Command Prompt when booting from Diskette(remember diskettes.?)....???

Will the digital output only work with certain Operating Systems..??

I have the most recent BIOS dated 7-16-2207, and it seems fine.

I also have a question about New DVD/CD burners/players. I have a Sony/NEC Optiarc AD-7170A DVD/CD burner. I under stand that with newer OSs, XP and later you don't need to connect the analog audio out or the digital audio out connectors to the MoBo/Sound Card. I am going to have a Dual boot system with W2K on one partition and XP-64 on the second partition. I know not many people are familiar with Dual Booting, but it is rather simple with NT based OSs. Right now I only have W2K installed and the analog audio out to the MoBo analog CD in header works fine, when playing CDs. I tried to connect the DVD/CD digital out connector to the S/PDIF input on the MoBo, but that did not work. Question:

Where do you connect the DVD/CD player Digital Out to..??

I have been searching the internet and forums for weeks and have found nothing that helps. Have also emailed the MoBo manufacturer.

Any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated....

THX,
kenr77