Transfering music

[Sonyme]

I am about to replace an ancient desk top pc with a 17" laptop. I envisage no problems with transfering file within Works and Office and I have most installation discs for other applications. But!! I have more than 1000 music tracks in Itunes library and have been trying to transfer these to USB memory sticks but can't get anywhere.A lot of this music is irreplaceble - American Big Bands from 1928 to1948 and I don't now have all the cd's, vynil and tapes where they came from.
I have an ethernet crossover cable which I believe can be used for data transfer but am not sure of the how to with this.
The new PC will have Vista and ideally I would like to transfer to Windows Media library.
Has any one any ideas ?

[Lakitu]

^ copycat

[MrBounty]

My earlier description would usually have been good enough! :)

[Lakitu]

But I went the extra mile and told him that the USB probably wasn't large enough AND told him DVD will hold more than CD. So there ;o)

[BillySugger]

& a dual layer DVD ................

[Sonyme]

Thanks to all who have tried to help on this. Trying different suggestions and advice I now have 3 4GB usb sticks which hold all the music in Itunes. The new laptop should be here Thursday and I should be able to transfer OK. There will of course be no problem transferring the music In Windows Media library ( or will there?)

[MrBounty]

Usually, iTunes will convert any music put into it's library to M4A type......WMA will usually use .wma or .mp3 music file types.

Why not just install iTunes onto your new laptop and then you wont need to convert it?