Best way to transfer files from old HD to new?

Apple recently replaced my dying HD with a new one and I have an account on it with basic files and apps running. I have been able to drag and copy home, Applications, net, System, Library, and my user & shared folders to the new desktop from the old HD. (Fun fact: old HD was apparently dying from overheating: wasn't working well in the enclosure I bought until I parked it on top of a freezer pack. Worked flawlessly after that.)
So...now I have the old bootable HD in an enclosure, critical folders of files and apps on my desktop, and time machine busily making archives of said folders. How to best rebuild my new account with all the old stuff: migration assistant, setup assistant, or judicious dragging and dropping? I also have DiskWarrior.
Old and new HD were standard 250 GB, with the old HD about 15% full; time machine is a firewire 500 GB solid-state drive (SSD?)

It depends on the size and type of HD you have: each has it's own "standard" enclosure. The iMac 250 GB drive is a 3.5" SATA HD; I bought an Inland model 8419 USB 2.0 enclosure, good for either 2.5" or 3.5" HDs. I found my model by searching online for "3.5 SATA HD enclosures": there were several brands that had good recommendations. I'm withholding recommending mine until I have completed recovering my old HD, and get some more operating instructions from inlandus.com. But I will say that the enclosure fit perfectly, with no screws loose.
What was the defunct computer, and what are the specs on the HD? It is also possible to get enclosure-less hookups: you can try http://eshop.macsales.com/search/universal+drive+adapter (thanks to Eric Ross)
-John

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If you want a free program that can open your Office files without having to pay for OfficeMac, then the free LibreOffice is available and works great.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201

Best way to transfer files from old HD to new?

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