No real suggestions except be sure that any programs you install are compatible with the 64bit system. Much software is still for 32 bit OS.

Sounds like a real screamer you have there. Good luck with it.

I don't think you'll be able to transfer programs and have them work.
Programs and Software need to be installed on a system.
You'll be able to transfer photos and documents.
Might want to invest in a flash or thumb drive to plug into the old computer usb and put all that you want to save, then remove the flash safely and plug into the usb on the new computer.
Never used Windows Easy Transfer.
Nice machine, she'll fly.

Don't be paying others to do these tasks. They can be part of the learning curve moving from XP to Vista. This is not a race, you can move forward at your leisure. If you are a nervous type person always remember you can walk away for a few minutes or more at any time. Just be sure to click Cancel rather than OK at those points in the process. Cancel stops things, OK approves the last move.

You will not find 'My Documents' as they are now just 'Documents'. Same with My Pictures etc. Other things seem to have been needlessly moved but a few days of playing around will soon acclimatise you to Vista.

Decide if you need the installed anti virus, it probably has a free 90 day intro. Vista firewall is 2 way so you can stay with that. Microsoft also provide an anti malware program on Vista, I think it is called Windows Defender and it seems to do the job. Friends have had it on their new HP since May and have stayed clean so it must be a capable program.

Remember at some point sooner than later that you need to burn a set of recovery disks. My friend's HP required 3 DVDs to accomplish the task and you can only do this once. (I wonder why the restriction?)

Enjoy your new machine. You will have to work very hard to fill that humongous hard drive.

Before you install any of your programs on your new computer, go to the website for each program and check for any Vista and 64 bit instructions to properly load the programs. Some may have you install a patch before loading a program. If you do this first you should have no problems.

This is just what I was hoping for, lots of info and input form you experts.....thanks

owbist, your advice was very encouraging, and I do plan to take plenty of time with setting up this new computer. I am not a nervous type person, but I am a cautious person when it comes to something like this....and yes I am bad with that "cancel" button.

I purposely did not have any anti-virus installed (like Norton of McAfee) because I am not using it now, I am using what you and others have said that you use, Anti-Malware, Avg 8.0, Super Anti-Spyware, CCleaner and the like. I will have to see what I need, once I get into the set up.

camp56, good point, I'll do that.

randy_ca....you say not to use the program "windows easy transfer" but you don't say why not to use it. I am not a computer savvy person, I can get through a lot of stuff after much studying and research but if there is a program with detailed written instructions then why not use it? You must know something about it that you are not pleased with but I know nothing about it, so clue me in.

I do have an external hard drive, and I will have everything on it in case of a disaster.

What I meant was I've never used the easy transfer.
Probably will work as advertised.

Only one suggestion as I run Vista Ultimate 64bit as well. I would suggest Avast (free version). There have been recent reports of AVG 8 series causing some problems. Never had any problems nor viri while using Avast for the last few years. Nice machine

To transfer files, not programs, from my old computer to my new one, I used an adapter case (found at Best Buy, ect for about $30) where I installed the hard drive from the old one and connected via cable to a USB port on the new one. Using Windows Explorer, I then used Copy and Paste commands to put the files on my new hard drive.
Much faster than using a flash drive, depending on the size of the drive and the size of the files.