I am looking for any ideas.

 I have recently made a rather huge jump from an old dos operated 486
> computer to one with an Intel Pentium 4 processor with Windows 98 Se, and
I
> have plans to upgrade to X.P. soon.  What I would like ideas on is this:
how
> can I get my files off my old 486 and convert it to usable files on my
newer
> computer?  I am thinking I may have to pull my hard drive off the old one,
> put it into the newer one back it up and then reinstall my old hard drive
> into the old 486.  I have a zip drive but since those discs are hard to
come
> by I would like to either back the data up on my hard drive or on a C.D.
> Rom since I do have a C.D. burner.  I am also afraid that even if I can
back
> them up they may be so
> incompatible with my newer machine and its software that they may not be
> usable.  Any thoughts would be appreciate it.  The New Orleans Lighthouse
> has expressed an interest in my old machine, and if I can convert its
files
> I would love to get it out of my way as I need the space.
Harvey