Best way to transfer data?

[CodeNameSly]

So I'm getting a new notebook soon, and currently have a desktop. I'm wondering what the easiest way to transfer data from my current HDD to the new one.

This is my current drive. An age-old Seagate .

Is it worth getting something that will allow me to directly connect it to my notebook? If so, what would be the cheapest solution (assuming I don't want to use it as an external in the future)? Or should I just save money and transfer the data over a LAN? If the latter, is there a nice (free) app that will make this a bit easier to do? Or would I just share my C:\ drive on my (protected) home network? I'm not exactly sure how I'd go about that.

Thanks a bunch!

EDIT: For formatting. Pun not intended .

 

[mechBgon]

If you can set up a network share on the new computer that the old one can access, then you can run the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard on the old computer (it's in Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools) and put the stuff in the share on the new computer, over the LAN.

 

[CodeNameSly]

Would I set the new one up for sharing via the same utility? And should I do it before I search for it with the new one? Perhaps its better to wait until I have the new machine to worry about this so that I can play with it and see if I can get it to work before asking so many questions...

 

[mechBgon]

First you'd have to set up the network share. Then you'd back up your old files & settings from the old computer to the network share of the new computer. Lastly, you'd run the same FAST utility on the new computer, pointing it to the stash that the old computer put in its network share.