character encoding: Windows XP vs Linux

[Jean Morissette]

Hi all,
When I transfert files from my girlfriend Windows XP computer to my 
Linux FC2 computer, I cannot read the files names properly from my 
Linux.  Specials chacarters like é à è are remplaced with a white space. 
  Can you help me or do I have to change my girlfriend? ;-)
Thank
Jean
PS: My variable $LANG is equal to fr_CA.UTF-8.