SCENARIO
Want to migrate entire drive (XP-programs-data) from my old dying computer (Pent4) to another old (Pent4 still working) whose hard drive is completely wiped clean.

PROBLEM
With target drive wiped clean I have nothing to grab copied files.

QUESTION
Can I boot Linux from CD on target and then use Linux to copy the hard drive of my existing computer?
Will any conflict arise between Linux and XP in this process?