How to restore rsync backup?

My hard drive died yesterday, and I bought a replacement (actually, a
new machine with a new HD).

I've been making backups using (essentially) "rsync -r /", but I'm not
sure how to restore them. Specifically:

 % I need to install some OS on the new machine just to transfer
 files. My previous OS was RedHat 7.3 (I've customized it a lot so I
 don't want to upgrade). Do I need to install this, or can I install
 some other Linux (eg, damnsmalllinux.com or another minimal Linux)
 just to transfer the files?

 % I'm pretty sure "rsync -r /" doesn't back up the master boot record
 (MBR), since that isn't part of the root filesystem. How do I create
 that on the new hard drive?

 % Once I get an OS running from the new drive, will rsync'ing cause
 problems, since I'm replacing files that are in use? Ideally, the new
 hard drive will show up like /mnt/newdrive or something, so that I
 can rsync w/o wiping out the files that are in use. That should be
 what happens when I boot from CD, yes?

 % I think I can do some of this by booting from CD, but how do I tell
 the CD installer: "I don't want to install: just give me enough to
 mount my hard drive + networking + rsync"?

Finally, if this is difficult, is anyone willing to earn some Linux
karma points by helping me out with this in person? I just moved
house, and have no idea where anything (blank CDs, my RedHat boot
disk, etc) is [I could buy a blank CD and download RH7.3, but that's
timeconsuming + I'm not even sure I can find RH7.3 online anymore]

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