Upgrading old computer with SSD + changing OS?

[Sowejior]

So i have an old computer, which has HDD and runs Windows XP. Whole HDD is encrypted using Veracrypt.

I have also bought a new SSD. I want to install windows 7 on SSD and set the computer to boot from SSD.

Now question is, how do i do that? Do i have to decrpyt HDD, can i keep the files on HDD? How would i be going about this if someone can give me brief steps, it would have been much appreciated!

 

[Relic1882]

I think your safest bet would be install the new SSD and install Windows on it normally like you would. A custom install with a fresh new drive.

When you install the new SSD, make sure you go into BIOS on the computer and set the new SSD as your second boot device. (The first one will be whatever media your Windows 7 installation is on) You want to make sure the old drive is not even in the boot device list in BIOS so you don't have to worry about it trying to boot your old Windows partition.

After windows 7 is installed on the SSD, install the Veracrypt software and mount the old hard drive through it so you can access your files.

Another option is to pull the old hard drive out and use a docking bay to access it later when your new OS is up and running. Something like this ->http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0VN-0003-000H5&cm_re=hard_drive_dock-_-0VN-0003-000H5-_-Product Everything else you do would be the same, but you wouldn't have to worry about touching the old drive during your installation or anything like that.

Here's the website for all the documentation on Veracrypt. You have to mount a drive through the software before you can encrypt or unencrypt it. --> https://veracrypt.codeplex.com/documentation