I have a similar issue. Formerly critical tool (now, sole repository of necessary historical information) that runs only on an outdated stack and for "copy pro

I have a similar issue. Formerly critical tool (now, sole repository of necessary historical information) that runs only on an outdated stack and for "copy protection" has critical data in an undocumented, obfuscated DAT file. It also requires a parallel port dongle, which it checks for as part of every read operation. The vendor went bust a decade before I was ever hired. I've automated a 'backup to zip file' each time the application terminates. It's saved me more than once - it's easy to clobber the data in the thing and the users have a tendency to screw it up when trying to navigate its cryptic keystroke-driven interface. Trying to export all the legacy data into a new tool met with incredibly frustration the couple of times we tried. It all becomes irrelevant in late 2017 and there's been a new system in place since 2007, so this abomination needs to only live on for a little while longer.