Data transfer: XP to Vista

So my mom got a new computer and it has vista. She wants to bring most of her old stuff from her old computer over to her new one and I am a little short of backing-up hardware. Is there a program or a way to do this that will let me set-up both and connect them by Ethernet cables for data transfer?

 

Haven't used it, but... Windows Easy Transfer is built in to Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/easy-transfer.aspx

You still have to reinstall your programs, but this should transfer the settings and data.

Here's a walk-through: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Migrating-Vista-using-Windows-Easy-Transfer.html

The ethernet cable will work if at least one of the ethernet adapters supports automatic crossover (just try it to find out)... otherwise, you'll need a crossover cable or you can use one of the other transfer methods (home network or external drive or CD).

 

If they are both laptops with wireless adaptors, then you can setup an adhoc network (no wires needed). If they are both desktops, then you can simply remove the HDD from the old one and connect to a free port of the new one.