Just another suggestion although I don't know how you would feel about it.... as it may not make the site look as organized, although it would have a great effect on the amount of questions coming in....
You could try posting the Newcomers Start Here link right above the main forum link (or right below, but easily seen), so the new people see it immediately before even coming into the main forum and start asking the same questions over and over... and then keep a post titled "Do Not Post Questions Here" in the Newcomers forum, and in the post you can breifly describe the site, how to search it, where to post questions, and all that good stuff.
Or, as someone else already suggested, you could just hold a thread at the top of the main forum for new people, describing how to search, and where to find all the information they need. I don't know if it's possible to hold a thread at the top of a forum though...
