Mysql - Restore after system crash
 

I had a system crash today, and I was able to get the mysql data files off the drive, but was not able to do any export. So I have the files /var/lib/mysql/*databases. I have a temp machine running in VMWare that I would like to have these databases setup so I could at the very least do a proper backup. My simply copying the files over I assume this will not work? Is there a method to take the old databases and import them to the new temporary server?

The last time i check copying the files to a new server worked but that was a long time ago i have never done it with the 5.x series.