Migrate HDD XP to SSD Win7

Question

I have 32-bit Windows XP installed on two HDDs in Raid 1. My end goal is to install 64-bit Windows 7 (to increase RAM to 8GB) on a single SSD drive and use the 2 HDDs (maintaining Raid 1) for user files. I would prefer not to format the Raid 1 drives, keeping all the documents contained in 'My Documents'. I'm not sure of the workflow. Every install I've done has been on new hardware.

I'm thinking I would need to disconnect the HDDs, install cleanly on the SSD, and then reconnect HDDs after, but will the MBR on the HDDs cause problems? Should I keep the HDDs connected, or will that force me into a dual-boot setup, which I don't want. Almost every search result I've done has pointed me to dual-boot scenarios. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

If you are not going to format the HDD's, and you don't want a dual boot, then you will be doing a clean install. In order to not cause problems later, you should remove the HDD's during the installation. This will keep all the Windows 7 files on one drive. Once completed, hook the HDD's back up. You may need to make sure the drive boot order changes in the BIOS. The MBR on the HDD's should not be an issue.