>>Do you have the Task Pane set to start when VFP is started? If so, try not opening it
>>when you start VFP.
>
>Yes, it does start automatically. I don't know why and I don't know how to turn it off.

Well, I'm not Jim, but I'm awake, so... :-)

Click on the Options Button on the Task Pane.
Click on Task Pane Manager
Deselect "Open the Task Pane Manager when Visual FoxPro starts".

That should do it for you.