>each time I try to pack a particular table I get the error. .fpt file is missing or invalid. Well it's not missing. How do I fix it?

While there are heavier tools available, my favorite trick is to open it in an older version of VFP - usually going back to VFP6 is enough (so I never had to dig up my VFP5 disk :). One of these versions is bound to be able to open the table. Then copy everything into a temp table (watch for long field names - create a temp dbc if needed), zap and append from temp.

If the fpt is thoroughly screwed, so that the above doesn't work, then it's a matter of using some advanced tools.