The only solution I've found to past digital data is to keep converting it to whatever current OS, file system and media I'm using, which works with a lot of it. Had I had more foresight, I would have kept a series of virtual machines running intact on an older PC so I could go back and browse stuff I had on Macs, Apple IIs and Commodores.
Knowing vi means that on any machine you have the ability to edit text... not a bad trade-off, if you ask me. It's also a nice break if you're tired of a Macintosh or Vista UAC asking you every ten seconds if you really want to do what you just tried to do.
Downvoting is pointless. It encourages mass retribution against unpopular but valid topics.
As someone else said, if a topic is broken -- spam, stupid or otherwise useless -- it should be flagged appropriately. My two cents, or probably about six cents worth 1 cent in 1987 values.
It's a cheap shot, but it does cut down on obliviously repeating the process you've been taught. We want people to read directions for any new process, no?