I like Sybase Sql Anywhere for this type of installation. Small footprint, easy to manage and very reliable. Works with ODBC, ADO, .NET. Can be configured to run as a service or start when your app starts and the shut down when your app disconnects.

>A lot of commentary here about migrating from VFP to .NET, Python etc. I accept all the arguments (mainly anyway).
>
>Don't hear so much about which db to migrate to that fits the "crash safe" criteria I have for using VFP tables:
>
> * very difficult to harm the tables in power failures, random reboots, voltage spikes etc
> * easy to strip out and rebuild table headers (and an app can sense and do this automatically)
> * yet high performance ...
>
>My app is typically run on a laptop (or dodgy hardware) in a remote location. I have one on a mine site that I haven't been able to visit since 2001!
>How robust is, say, MS SQL Server Compact Edition by comparison? Can you cut the power without corruption problems? Any other suggestions?