changing PCs, best way to move all my drive contents?

I just need to know the best way to handle this.

Mom wants her Dell Dimension 4100 back, and I've been given a Compaq Celeron 1.70 GHz. Is there a way to just copy all my stuff on Mom's drive to my new PC at once? Or is there a better alternative? I would like not to have to set up everything all over again. I started to use the XP Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, but first it says the best way is over a network (they are wired together through the DSL router), and then that choice is grayed out and it wants a serial to serial connection, which I don't have. It occurred to me that maybe I could just copy the whole hard drive. Would it be easiest to install it as a slave to the one I want to copy? What software should I use? I see Acronis on your Pick list.

Please point me in the right direction. I never seem to find the easiest way, I just dig myself deeper into learning more than I can process at a time!

 

The easiset way is to copy all your files to a flash drive or DVD.

When you say you dont want to set everything up again there is no getting around that. You will have a new OS on your new comp and all your programs will have to be reinstalled.

Or you could give your mom the new computer and keep the Dell.

 

There are many options, there is a wizard for XP for example. I've used Aloha Bobs with good results, it can use either a network cable or USB adapter, but either method, with any software, will take a while.

 

crossover cat5 cable would get most of the files; the settings, bookmarks, etc. get a little more complicated. once all of the major file transfers are done you can get nit-picky with everything else. You can get crossovers at best buy, radio hack, and so on