ME2 question.

So I want to buy ME2 on Steam but I haven't finished the first. Regarding the save stuff which continues to the second, I know I need to finish the first but can I download the game and just not play it to still get the continue save option? As in, does ME2 look for the save file automatically or do I have to actually start the game for it to do the save continuation thing?

I don't have it on steam but it should work like this anyway. When you open it a launcher should open. There will be an option saying "configure" or something along those lines. There will be an import saves menu when you open that, you will be told to find the folder with the Mass Effect saves in it in order to convert them into Mass Effect 2 files.

You are a little vague, but if I understand you correctly, you cannot import a save into an already started ME2 save, you can only start a new career.

It will ask you to import your save game from the first game. Buy ME2 now while it's cheap. But finish the first game. If you don't have a save file from ME1, it defaults to some of the worst choices you could have made in the first game.