Re-loading SP5 did the trick. Not sure what happened to my previous install, but that's a different issue altogether. Thanks a bunch.
:-)

>IIRC, you need at least SP3(beter SP5) for COMPILE command to work. IOW, VFP6 runtime files are pre SP3 on the PC where it generates an error.
>
>>Have a routine that creates, compiles and executes a temporary program. The compile command is crashing with "feature not available", error 1001.
>>
>>This routine has worked for years until recently. Nothing in the routine has changed. It fails in the stand-alone exe application only, but works fine in the FoxPro 6 environment. Any ideas? The source follows:
>

>>function ProcessRecord
>>lParameters lcRoutine
>>
>>*-- save the current routine
>>copy memo --from a field in a table-- to &jcTempFolder.\&lcRoutine..Prg
>>            *-- I confirmed the above program is still correct
>>compile &jcTempFolder.\&lcRoutine..Prg
>>            *-- The above command is the one that crashes
>>*--  and execute
>>do &jcTempFolder.\&lcRoutine..Fxp
>>
>>return
>