If no directory is specifed or the searched file is at the root (in your case), File() will look in all paths set with SET PATH. You can argue weither it's a bug or a feature, but I'm sure that MS think that it's a feature.

ADir() will do what you want to do.

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>I have the same problem, although I'm getting different results.
>If I use File("A:\mastco.dbf") I get a result of .T., since the file is found along the VFP path. I've also tried File("c:\mastco.dbf") and File("D:\mastco.dbf") {a Zip drive}.
>
>I'm working on a backing up process that can be put in the root of A: or D:, or a network drive (f:\ is actually a sub-directory, but mapped as a drive). The backup set can't be located in any valid data directory, so I need this to work. I can use if adir("A:\mastco.dbf") <> 0 or lcText=locFile("A:\mastco.dbf") and compare lcText with the path I send, but I get really tired of writing around VFP.