What would you guys recommend as the very best process to get a new 3g 'Pod up and running on WinXP with EphPod?

Install Ephpod first, and then plug in the Pod (I'll be using USB 2.0) for windows formatting? Or vice versa? Do I completely ignore the CD that comes with the Pod? What about drivers? I just hear so many horror stories about MMJB and iPod Manager, that I want to just avoid installing them at all.

I'm being very paranoid after this long wait for my Pod (see the 'Apple Dispatch Times' thread over in General ;)), and I want to get up and running with as few complications as possible.