Microsoft has released instructions on how to shift all your precious hard drive date from your current Xbox 360 model to the new Xbox 360 Elite 120 GB HDD, which goes on sale in North America this weekend.

Those who decide to purchase the newer hard disk need only to attach the bundled migration kit cable to their old drive and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the tasks. Job's a good 'un!

However, if you're one of those people who is shelling out for the whole Xbox 360 Elite console and want to retain the files that sit in your Core or Premium model's memory, you'll need to follow a different process, which may take up to an hour depending on how much data you've already got stored.

First you'll need to pay a visit to Microsoft's official Xbox website and order a 'migration kit,' which the company says will be free of charge. Once delivered to your home, th device will wipe any data that is stored on the Elite's larger hard disk drive before moving existing save games and files over. In addition, users moving data to the Elite will also have to connect to Xbox Live to play already-purchased Arcade games in future - whether this is permanent or there'll be an upgradeable solution hasn't yet been divulged.

Click over to Major Nelson's website for a full instructional video, taking you step by step through the migration process. Nelson is Xbox Live's Director of Programming whose site provides free information and support to Xbox gamers.

Today's news will ease the nerves of many a gamer who were worried that all the hours they had put into titles (and the downloadable content they had purchased) on their older Xbox's might be lost forever if they decided to plump for an Xbox 360 Elite.

As well as a bigger hard drive, the Xbox 360 Elite includes an HDMI port and coated in a sleek black design.