>Here's a new one on me.
>
>1. Create a new table in an existing database. Add a few records to the table. The database and the table are on a network in the same folder. modi database shows the table is in the database.
>
>2. run "validate database recover". Every cks OK.
>
>3. run "select * from newsurveys!surveyyears where _year < gnRptYear order by _year"
>Produces an error that says there is no backlink from the table to the database, would you like to create one? ANS Yes.
>Followed by an error that says the table must be opened exclusively.
>
>Can anyone explain this to me?

This sort of ghosthunting looks to me like you have your table twice on the path, and somehow the wrong one pops up every now and then. Check for surveyyears.dbf along your path - if my hunch is right, you got two.