My client is planning to upgrade its desktop computers, however, I need to make sure that the accounting package is still available (for 7 years). However, the supplier the package was purchased from not longer supports the version (2012)and there is no longer a download link. Backing up the data is easy, but I need a way of transferring the package to the new PC (or to my laptop)without a proper re installation. If that is impossible, then the only option I can think of is finding a way to attached the hard disk to the new PC - haven't got a clue how, or persuading the client not to scrap the PC until after the statutory retention period.

We are in the process of migrating to a cloud based system, but I want to do a clean configuration of the chart of accounts to get rid of past 'garbage'.

In the meantime, I going to contact the auditors to see if a dump of all the ledgers and audit trail would be satisfactory retention, but that would take reams of paper - and I would need to wait until the audit for 15/16 is complete in case of post-audit adjustments.