Easy transfer from Vista laptop to old PC with XP?

I want all my files from Vista transferred down the Belkin cable to XP sp3. The old pc with xp prompts to select files to transfer back to Vista lap top - I try to set it as the old one but the xp pc ignores this. I know it is possible because I succeeded before my older pc was fixed. I can't understand why it won't work now.

I sent off for a flash drive because the files in question are 7GB winrar and too big for DVD. I would like to have the Belkin working as before.