>All gave the exact same response. Namely: the external windows program opens for a moment and then closes. At the same location, (all serviced from same firewall with virus and spyware shut off) I installed the program and external windows program on several different computers. It is only one computer that is experiencing the problem.
>
>I then substituted notepad.exe for the external windows program. THAT WORKED FINE on all computers including the one in question.
>
>I then wrote a 1 form vfp program and compiled into an exe. That program was able to run the external windows program just fine on all computers.
>
>So the problem is specific to my initial vfp app installed on a particular computer. Everywhere else it is installed it operates fine.
>

Step one: Start vanilla vfp like you did start notepad.
if step one works
   Step two: Start your program via vfp.exe with 
   set step on 
   as second line 
else
   reinstall vfp

HTH

thomas