One of my computers has glitched hard drives, first the data storage drive, and then the OS & program files drive.  I don't feel that it's worth fixing in order to have a 32bit WinXP machine.

     However, the manual says the motherboard main chipset is good for 8GB DDR2, and I have the memory sticks and new hard drives on hand.  I bought some 64bit Win7 Pro OEM (full install, not upgrade) licenses.  So, can I replace the hard drives and memory, then boot from the Win7 optical disc to begin the install?  A 64bit quad-core with 8GB would be worthwhile.

     What do I need to know to do this?

Black Candles, Necronomicon, Bruce Campbell stunt double, chainsaw, gas for the chainsaw, bone dust and popcorn.

Sorry couldn't resist.

I'd probably hook the drives up to another system and use something like Partition Magic or one of the free equivalent apps to partition and format them first. OTOH, I'm sure the process of doing it duing install is probably improved since the rather clunky (IIRC) command line I remember. With my luck, I'd be worrying about why two drives failed in succession and wondering if it was just coincidence or something with the MB, cables etc. There should be many step-by-step guides to a clean install. I've never done it with 7, but usually just set the optical as first boot device in the BIOS and follow the on screen instructions. Unless it's something odd, Windows should have the drivers for the MB stuff I'd think.

As Imckenzie said. I booted from optical drive with windows 7 a couple times to install. Pretty quick compaired to old windows installs.

Just a suggestion, you might have reasons these don't apply.

1. Change PC hardware (if you only have two drive bays suggest fitting only one drive at this stage for the system drive)
2. Boot to BIOS, check for POST errors and reset to default or refresh BIOS config (just want to be sure the BIOS has detected the new hardware)
3. Cold boot PC to BIOS again and check for POST errors and config is ok.
4. If ok insert Win7 media, reboot and build Win 7
5. Suggest not partioning disk into more than one drive unless you have a specific reason
6. Once Win7 set-up start the process of copying the data across. The only way I can think of is to fit the failed drive into a empty drive bay and add it as a data disk (have done this but can't remember off top of head). Once the data is across ok, remove the failed disk and add one of your new ones.

     Thanks, fellas. ^^ 

     The hard drives didn't fail simultaneously, rather the data drive began showing errors here and there, and then occasionally getting stuck for a moment, and only some time later did the C drive start to have problems, such as losing the object library for PhotoImpact.  The library was there, but PI could no longer read it, even if I re-pointed PI to the library again.  Then one day it just wouldn't boot.

     This computer was the hardest worked box I had;  it was the one on which I built most of my models, mapped them, worked up materials, worked out motion sequences, etc., as well as doing a lot of small test renders.  In other words, I put a lot of mileage on it.

     The cost/benefit makes repairing a 32bit machine nearly worthless to me.  But this Dozer chassis has big 120mm fans and liquid cooling, and with an upgrade to 64bit Win7 and 8GB, it would be quite useful.

My old sata drives went like that, however once I replaced them the PC was ok.  Take it you're familiar with anti-static measures when handling the hardware, I see alot of videos with people holding the innards of a computer or poking a screw driver into the chassis as if the components were immune to static but it all to easy to fry a component that way. The other suggestion I forgot to add was to keep the old system disk handy until the new PC is full operational that way of you can't find a device driver for the network card on the optical disk,  you may be able to copy it off the old system drive (assuming the disk is still usable).

     Thank you for helping, ironsoul.  My intent was to use one HD for OS and program files, then add a second HD (D) for my Poser scene files and Silo/modo model build files, and probably a third for archival storage (content zips, software downloads, etc)

     Yes, I am aware of the static issue;  I even have the bracelets which clamp to the chassis.

     I do intend to keep the old HDs and will put them in a quick-change external HD chassis and try to salvage what I can.  They seem to be intermittently hiccupping, rather than having a total catastrophic failure, so chances are fairly good.