Mac to PC Files and External Hard Drives?

o.k. First want to thank all those for helping here!
I have been reading and researching for all the answers but I am still confused???
I am going to give you all the information possible to allow someone to offer the best solution.
I have a 6 year old Dell running windows ME PIII866 with 128MB with some pictures and word, powerpoint that I want to save before I give it to my children.
I have an HP Desktop XP AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200 about one year old that I am selling to purchase our first MAC. This computer has about 80GB worth of video and pictures and documents.
My wife has a Compaq laptop about 18 months old she uses for work running XP.
I purchased a Western Digital External Hard Drive to back-up and save all the data.
The problem is I am not sure what format to use.
I have only 3 files larger thab 4Gb to save. So I could use FAT32 and just burn those to DVD.
What is the best solution???
Should I look at a program like Macdrive and that way any future file size problems are not an issue? Seems crazy when only 3 files require that program. Anyone using Macdrive as an option?
I would like to get into making home movies on our Mac. Not sure about future file size extra.
I guess what format should I make the External Drive?
Thanks so much for all your help
It is great to be in the Mac World!!!
Tig
P.S. Sorry for all the info but I thought giving some back ground would help those have the answers!

Quick follow up information. My new macbook has not arrived yet. I am trying to save time and get ready by dumping the informaiton/files from the old desktop.
The desktop is sold and needs to move onto greener pastures
I just don't want mess anything up here most the files are video...like my children's births, first Christmas, first birthday. Nothing too important
Thanks again for your help and thoughts.
Tig

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