Microsoft has joined forces with The National Archives to help stop vital information being lost in a digital black hole.
The tie-up with the software giant means that Britain will be the first nation in the world that can convert old Microsoft documents to be read in modern technology.
Gordon Frazer, managing director UK and vice-president Microsoft International, said: "There is a real possibility of creating a huge digital black hole where all this information is no longer accessible because we cannot access them with old technology.
"We are facing the challenge of a digital dark age and have to make sure it does not happen."
Microsoft and The National Archives (NA) signed a memorandum of understanding to protect the nation"s digital records from the past, present and into the future.