>>Now, any time I try to use ethe program, an error message comes up: "Last file change date in error: xxxx.dbf".

Does the message really say "xxxx.dbf" or does it give the name of a dbf. Does xxxx.dbf actually exist? If so, can you USE it directly in Foxpro? Do you get the same error on other dbf's that you directly USE?

Could xxxx.dbf be a special file to implement a "lockout", as Cetin suggested? Perhaps you can manipulate the header in a copy of that file using the low-level file functions?

Perhaps the program is looking at the OS date on that dbf -- check to see what the date is on the backup and see if you can find a way to restore it without changing the date in the process.

That's all the ideas I have at the moment. I feel your pain.