Setting up DNS on Server 2003

Ok i have DNS installed on this machine...Record for NS1.KickassAMD.com pointing to my DNS server now how do i give i guess the records for my site in my DNS...? like kickassamd.com , the MX record and what not. i dont know what kinda zone to use..? it gives me three options.

You need to make a forward zone. The name of your zone is "kickassamd.com". You assign that an IP address, and give various subdomains IP addresses like 'www' and 'mail' for example.

ok say i want to add more domains not subdomains would they be a seperate FOWARD LOOK UP ZONE..?

also if i change something EG change an IP address error i edit the A record press ok its done, how do i update the server it self restart the DNS service....?

now i have my machines NIC setup to only use my DNS server for DNS so that i can test changes i set up a mail exchange record but im confused on the Fully Qualified Domain Name...? What do i do there i have a record for it but i get a non existant domain when i ping it..? When i create a CNAME set it i get ping replies instantly..?

yes, each domain you register is placed in a seperate forward zone.

I don't know, but I'm guessing that changes take effect immediately. If not, you can go to the control panel -> administrative tools -> services list and restart the dns server.

Fully qualified domain names are a full domain like "mail.kickassamd.com" rather than just the first part of it like "mail". Don't forget to make an 'A' record for mail.

my next problems is that the domain roots dont work EG www.whatever.com...but subdomains do mail.whatever.com and forums.whatever.com....? NE idea

www.whatever.com is not a root domain, that's a subdomain (a.k.a. 'host'). 'whatever.com' is a root domain. If your www host is having issues, check the IP to make sure it's fine. It may also be a webserver problem. If the root domain doesn't work, then give it an IP as well.

And I don't know if this means anything, but kickassamd.com works for me.