I found this forum because like so many others, hard drive crash created the opportunity for me to learn that "backup" to a ransom is not a back up at all. Without the defunct web site, our back ups are meaningless as far as the software we purchased.
I later found that MasterCook has a way to recover our files. I purchased the program and then on top of that bought a level 2 ticket for $75 and they converted my useless backup into my cookbooks in a form I can use in my new MasterCook software.
So I will teach myself this new software. But I immediately printed it to a pdf and saved it to removable media. I will NEVER let myself become dependent on a software provider like that again. So while pricey, I am SO RELIEVED that I have my recipes back.