PREPARE before R3load Export/Import?

We are planning an upgrade from SAP 4.7 to ECC 6.0, where the system will also be moved onto new hardware with new OS and Oracle versions. Our procedure is to perform a Homogeneous System Copy of our current SAP 4.7 system, using R3load to complete an Export, then using R3load to Import the existing system onto the new hardware.

Our current system setup, where the Export will be completed is:

SAP 4.7 (Domain Installation)

Windows 2000

Oracle 9.2.0.5.

Our new system, SAP 4.7 (Local Installation), will be Imported using the R3load procedure onto our new hardware with Windows 2003 and Oracle 10.2.0.2. Once the SAP 4.7 copy has been completed on the new hardware, we will begin the SAP upgrade to ECC 6.0.

Based on our procedure, am I still able to effectively complete the PREPARE on our current system before the R3load Export is ran? Will this PREPARE still be effective once the system has been Imported (copied) onto different versions of OS and Oracle? Or, will I need to re-run the PREPARE once it has been copied onto the new os and Oracle versions? Any experience would be very helpful in making this decision.

Thanks in advance.

Tina