>>>Hmm, if you know the name of the folder you're looking for, VFP DIRECTORY() works for me. On my system I have a hard drive C:, an optical drive D: with no medium in the drive, and drive U: does not exist. The folder C:\Something\ does not exist:
>>>

>>>?DIRECTORY( "C:\Something" ) && .F.
>>>?DIRECTORY( "D:\Something" ) && .F.
>>>?DIRECTORY( "U:\Something" ) && .F.
>>>
>>>* no OS dialogs or errors
>>>

>>
>>Tried that, but my OS complained again.
>
>Really? What type of drive/medium/lack of medium? What was the error/dialog?

Memory card reader with empty slots. See screenshot.