>1. Someone sometime ago posted a method to show one row of a grid in a different background or text color, depending upon the value of that particular record, but can't find it. Could someone please explain how?
>

Check out the DynamicBackColor property of the Column.

>2. Sometimes, while working with a form, if some error occurs during development the form remains open and if I click on the x button it just goes disabled and I just can't close the form or modify it in any way. A thisform.release button doesn't work either. Only thing to do is to close VFP and open it again. How can I close that form without having to close VFP?

This is usually due to an outstanding object reference - especially if the object reference is a form property. Or it could be a reference that was created outside of the form, like with SYS(1270) in the command window.
Go to the command window and enter CLEAR ALL.