USB for Parallels Transporter?

I have a new Mac Mini and a copy of Parallels 3.0 (in the box, don't know the build number). I'd like to move everything from my Dell Dimensions 4100 to the Mini via Parallels Transporter.

First question: The Dell came with Windows XP Pro SP1 (about 4 years ago) and since then we've run all the updates including SP2. I understand from the docs here that during the transfer, I may need to insert the Dell's XP Pro install CD. Does it make a diff. that the install CD is SP1 but I'm actually transferring SP2?

Second question: The Dell and the Mini are on the same ethernet network. However I'd prefer to do the transfer with a direct connection between the two ... the network is slow and I always have trouble getting the Macs to see the Dell and vice versa. The problem is that the Dell does not have Firewire.

The Dell does have USB, could I do the transfer with a USB-to-USB connection? I've seen Belkin sells something like this for PC-to-PC migrations.

If that's not possible, is there a way to connect the Dell to the Mini with a crossover cable or something? (I'm just using jargon, I'm not clear on the concept of a crossover cable.

Third question: If the transfer is unsuccessful, and I end up having to buy another copy of XP Pro for the Mini's VM, is there any way to move at least the installed apps on the Dell (and their custom config files) over? I'm especially concerned about our credit card processing software, I had to pay a consultant a few hundred to fill in all the fields during setup and would have no idea how to do it on my own.

Thanks!
AM