Transfer programs from xp to vista

I need to transfer some programs from my old comp. "an xp"to another "vista".I seen there is a file/program transfer wizard on the xp which I will use . Maybe connecting the 2's usb. If I go this route do I have to still reinstall them all and will it put them in the right place ? Or would it be better to copy the programs to a flash drive and then cut and paste them in my hdd on the vista . They are stand alone programs .What is the best way plz

Why not just go to their website(s) & get fresh copies? That way you have the latest versions. JMO

We can always copy - - but programs ALWAYS need to be installed (on PCs) - - Windows programs create a ton of updates to the registry to make them workable.

If you have the installer for programX, copy it and then run it on the target system.
Otherwise, you will need a fresh download or CD from the vender.

As jobeard said, unless a program is clearly described as portable, in which case it doesn’t need installation, you can just copy its folder and paste it where you want, e.g. using a USB to carry it around, or even run it from it. Bear in mind that standalone does not necessarily mean portable.