UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

First of all, I'd like to preface this post by relaying that I have considerable experience with FreeBSD but I'm a Linux newb. I've been attempting to compile linux-2.6.29.3 from source and I'm having some problems and have a few newb questions...

a) First of all, my kernel won't boot, it fails immediately. I have a WD SATA drive conntected to an Intel DG45ID (ICH10) in AHCI mode. I have CONFIG_SCSI=y, CONFIG_BLK_DEV_PIIX=y, CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=y, and CONFIG_ATA=y selected to build into the kernel, which I assume are the requirements. What else could I be missing?

b) Can CONFIG_IDE be left out if you're running SATA in AHCI or RAID mode? The optical drive will still work?

c) Since I have to delete, recompile and install a lot this is getting time consuming. If I did a make clean and then re-make, re-make modules and install, will that overwrite my previous custom kernel and configurations or should I manually delete all associated files and modules in /lib/modules? Is there a quicker method for testing changes to kernels?

d) I can't figure out what my RTC clock is, even after analyzing the board and checking Intel's specifications. How would I determine this?

e) I have a bunch of these when I make install:
WARNING: No module ahci found for kernel 2.6.29.3, continuing anyway
WARNING: No module ata_piix found for kernel 2.6.29.3, continuing anyway
WARNING: No module ahci found for kernel 2.6.29.3, continuing anyway
WARNING: No module dm-mem-cache found for kernel 2.6.29.3, continuing anyway
WARNING: No module dm-message found for kernel 2.6.29.3, continuing anyway
WARNING: No module dm-raid45 found for kernel 2.6.29.3, continuing anyway

These were compiled into the kernel and not made as modules, so is this why I'm receiving this message? Should they be modules instead? Does it matter, adversely?

Thanks in advance, any help or answers to any of my above questions are greatly appreciated!