We did not know how the database worked. We could not see how the database worked. We only had the original copy of the database to work with. If our procedures corrupted the data in any way, then we would be held liable.

Now we were annoyed.

Then came the real challenge. The machine room had no network ports or wireless access. There was no Internet access, and the machines were not networked to each other. We could not transfer the file by e-mail or FTP or send the file to an intermediate server.

The 'sneakernet' approach

Move the machines to a networked area? The old machine lacked a network interface card. Install an NIC and then move the device? No one had network hardware of that model vintage.