Should be easy, you think.....

I have a heap of files on a 8G memory stick that I need to copy to another device, all mpg video. all file play using VLC or the like. Attempting to copy them to another device for backup produces an error that causes the device to unmount and remount. File copy, of course, immediately falls over. Tried copying using Hiren, UBCD, Linux, XP, Vista and W7.

Any suggestions? These are videos created of old family moments that the lady would not like to lose. The videos were created by her husband who passed away last year, so I have no idea what methods he used. He seems to have backups of everything except this list of files.