>So it looks like my side-by-side install of VFP8-Beta actually did overwrite my VFP7 stuff; I was hoping that I would be able to do some version-independent testing but now I have to go find a machine that only has v7....

Grab vfpoledb.dll off your 7.0 CD, drop into any directory you like, Start/Run/regsvr32 and before you click the OK button, drag vfpoledb.dll from explorer to the run dialog. Now click OK. You will now be using the 7.0 provider when you use ADO to get to Fox data.