I was assuming you had a UNIX server to scp to, especially given the forum you are posting on.

Alternatively you could try to use samba to share the windows disk.

Perderabo has agood workable solution. Your suggestion of copying to a USB drive while you reinstall windows is also a good solution. reborg suggests using "live CD" with a linux OS on it. If you can boot from DVD the latest version of Knoppix (free download and also free in many other ways). If it won't boot from DVD, but will from CD try a slightly older version of Knoppix. boot with your USB drive connected. Knoppix will find it and your old hard drive (and any others, plus your CD, floppy, etc. and show it's icon on the screen. right click it and "mount" it. open it to display a directory and look at it to be sure that you actually have the drive in question. The close the file browser, and right click the drive icon again. this time you want to change the read/write settings open it again, and open the eld drove. Shoose the files that you want to copy and just "drag them" where you want them.
. Sonshyne5