ms works documents unreadable on alt.pc

I have some important docs that I typed on several msworks/word docs saved to my floppy’s.
I have installed new h-drives on my computers with upgraded os’s. and some I have downgraded the os. I don’t recall what os the docs were created and copied,or what file system, since I have switched them around so often lately. but I really need to save these docs. what incompatibilities are there that would prevent me from reading msworks docs on other systems than those they were created on?? -Ben LaMoure