Transferring Large Files from Windows 98 Desktop to Modern Computer

[AbiGDouglas]

I'm trying to move a large number of emails from the 90s/early 2000s from a Packard Bell running Windows 98 to a modern computer. The AOL Personal Filing Cabinets I need are far too massive for any floppy disk or email (not that the old computer can connect these days), and of course this is pre thumbdrive tech. Unable to burn data to a CD either. At this point, I'm cutting and pasting small chunks of text into WinWord docs and ferrying them over to the newer computer. This process is going to take an absurd amount of time. Is there any better way? Can I connect the two computers (which are side-by-side) so the newer one can pull files directly from the old one? What kind of crossover cable would even work for that?

 

[Aria1066]

Get an external HDD enclosure with a USB connection.
Remove the HDD from the old PC and fit it in the enclosure.
Connect to new PC using USB - should show up on the modern PC as an additional drive with a new drive letter.
Copy files from old HDD to modern PC.