Starting to think about overclocking... I need someone to hold my hand through this!

I have been wanting to OC my PC for a while now, but I have just never really had the confidence to do it. I know that my computer is MORE Then able to be OCed. I recently have been venturing deeper into reading more about it and trying to understand how to do it, and of course, I have questions. I know there are a ton of these threads about wanting to OC and not knowing how to do it and asking for advice and what not. I am sorry for making another one but I just don't want to end up messing something up with my PC, because then I would be out one of the most precious things in my life (as I am sure everyone here loves their computers just as much as I do). So I have a few basic questions i guess, I'll just start:

My first question doesn't really have to do with overclocking itself, its about Prime95. I know that Prime95 is a stress test that you use to see if there are any errors in your system. The question that I have is once i have ran Prime95 and everything, if there is any errors, how do I go about fixing them? Also I read that it is best to run Prime95 in safe mode, is that true?

My second question is one that I'm sure gets asked all the time, and this I apologize for. I'm sure the people who always answer these " Beginner needing help overclocking" threads are so sick of people like me, but what are some good Overclocking threads? I have been looking at a few such as these:

http://www.overclock.net/t/146820/intel-overclocking-redefined-guide-to-successful-overclocking-with-nb-straps-in-mind

http://www.overclock.net/t/238958/overclocking-guides-for-beginners

http://www.overclock.net/t/1198504/sandy-ivy-bridge-complete-overclocking-guide-asrock-edition

Now what I am really looking for is one that is recent and is a good one. Since I have never done this before, I don't know how to gauge a good overclocking thread. I guess this is the most important thing to me right now. I want to make sure I can understand everything before I actually try anything... Anyways that is all I have to ask for as of right now, and there are going to be many more questions in the future as I make my way along this endeavour.. Thanks for the help guys and tolerating my noobishness with overclocking.

Like I said in the thread title, I need someone to hold my hand through this!!!
Edited by Shinigami~ - 6/15/12 at 2:34pm

Thanks, I will definitely check it out

I know that I want to *eventually* get over 4.3, I have a Corsair H100 cooler so I'm not running stock cooling..which should be alright

And if Prime95 crashes then all I need to really do is up either the CPU voltage, VCCIO or MB voltage? and thats it?

Yeah my hardware is:

Intel i7-2600k
ASUS p8p67 Deluxe
16GB G.skill
2x ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580
Corsair H100
Cooler master Silent Pro 1200w

So on this thread:

http://www.overclock.net/t/910467/the-ultimate-sandy-bridge-oc-guide-p67a-ud7-performance-review/690


The OP gives some required programs that are for monitoring your system and everything, but then under the part where it says required there is another part that says this:

Required: Pick one or more or your own monitoring software:
HWMonitor will give you voltages and temperatures
Motherboard Software (such as EasyTune 6(GIGABYTE), TurboV(ASUS)): will give you voltages and temperatures as well as in windows voltage and multiplier change options.
Core Temp for Temperatures
Real Temp for Temperatures
Speed Fan: system monitoring


Are ALL of these things required or will the other programs do? here is a list of what programs I have right now:

CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWMonitor
RealTemp
IntelBurnTest/Prime95

are there any other programs that I need? I am a little confused with this third required section on the thread?