📀 Digital archeology: open and convert dead file formats (1990s-2000s)

You found an old hard drive, a box of floppy disks, or a CD-R from 1999. The files have extensions like .WPS, .WK1, .SHW, .LWP, or .SWF. Modern software won't open them. This guide provides a complete toolkit for recovering data from dead formats — digital archeology for the rest of us.

Office Suites and Word Processors

• .WPS (Microsoft Works): LibreOffice opens these natively. If LibreOffice fails, use `wps2html` (command line) or online converter (but be careful with sensitive docs).
• .WKS / .WK1 (Lotus 1-2-3): Gnumeric (Linux) opens them best. Excel (older versions 2003-2010) can also open. For command line: `ssconvert` from Gnumeric.
• .LWP (Lotus Word Pro): Use `libwpd` tools: `lwp2txt` or `lwp2html`. Install via `sudo apt install libwpd-tools` on Linux.
• .WPD (WordPerfect): LibreOffice supports WordPerfect. For damaged files, try `wp2html` or open in WordPerfect for Windows (version 8 or later).
• .SHW (Corel Presentations): LibreOffice Impress opens these. For batch conversion, use `libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf *.shw`.
• .ABW (AbiWord): AbiWord itself (still maintained) or LibreOffice.
• .CWK (AppleWorks/ClarisWorks): Open with LibreOffice or use `cwk2text` (available on Mac).

Spreadsheets

• .WQ1 (Quattro Pro for DOS): Open with LibreOffice Calc. Or convert with `ssconvert`.
• .SLK (SYLK): Excel and LibreOffice both open SYLK files. This format was used by Multiplan and early Excel.
• .DIF (Data Interchange Format): Universal format from VisiCalc days. LibreOffice opens it.

Databases

• .DBF (dBase, FoxPro, Clipper): LibreOffice Base opens DBF. Also `dbfutils` command line tools for Linux.
• .MDB (Microsoft Access 95-2003): Use `mdbtools` on Linux: `mdb-export` can dump tables to CSV. Also, Access 2016 can open old MDB files.

Multimedia and Web

• .SWF (Shockwave Flash): Download Ruffle (emulator) or use Flashpoint Archive (curated collection of Flash games and animations). The standalone Flash Player projector from Adobe (version 32) still works for local files.
• .DIR / .DXR (Director): Use Dmxtractor or run in SheepShaver (Mac emulator).
• .QT (QuickTime): VLC media player plays most QuickTime files. For old codecs, install QuickTime 7 on Windows 7 virtual machine.

Hardware Media Recovery (Floppies, Zip Disks, CDs)

• Floppy disks (3.5" and 5.25"): Use a USB floppy drive. On Linux: `ddrescue /dev/fd0 floppy.img floppy.log` to create a raw image. Then mount the image.
• Zip disks (100/250MB): An external parallel port or USB Zip drive works. Same `ddrescue` approach.
• CD-R with errors: Use `ddrescue` with multiple passes: `ddrescue -d -r3 /dev/sr0 cdimage.iso cdimage.log`.

Virtual Machines for Native Software

Sometimes conversion fails, and you need the original software. Set up:

• Windows 98 in QEMU: Install Microsoft Works, WordPerfect, or Corel Suite.
• Windows XP in VirtualBox: For Office 2003 or Access.
• SheepShaver (Mac OS 9 emulator): For old Mac formats (.SIT, .BIN, .PICT).