Dream Machine

[gottfried]

Fred, happy B-day! I'd buy an HD enclosure and install the old drive in it and then connect it to the PC via USB. That way you can move files from the old to new at your leisure - as needed.
That's what I did.

Enclosures are about $30 and the drive just plugs in.
Here are a few http://www.newegg.com/store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=92&Tpk=hard%20drive%20enclosure
make sure it's for the right HD size [probably 3.5"] and connector [eSATA or parallel]

I use my external drive for backup now and power it up only when I use it - about every two days.