Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:08:15 -0800 From: Guy Sotomayor <ggs at shiresoft.com> Oh, I completely understand how it happens (after having seen it happen a few times). Typically all of the source for a project is kept on a server(s) that run the SCM (source code management) system. Yes, they are backed up but in many cases it's just a rotating backup set (ie they get overwritten). When the project is EOL'd usually the server(s) are either re-tasked (involving a complete re-install and wipe) or scrapped (which involves wiping). The backups are usually scrapped at that time as well. Almost no one does an archive of those backups. If they do, then that's were to look because they are kept in an off-site location for disaster recovery. In many cases the off- site storage is mostly write-only (ie tapes/whatever go in but are never asked for and not purged). Most of this stuff gets "lost" because of apathy on the part of the owners rather than malicious intent. TTFN - Guy People have always been sloppy about old backups. Even companies like Thinking Machines, who were careful and kept off-site backups using Iron Mountain, or somesuch, when the company went out of business, all these tapes ended up in a dumpster. (I know this for a fact). --Tim P.S. Back in the 70's version control systems were rare. Personal Software's backups were done on floppies.