Server 8 has 3 other databases open, and all is well with those.

This 4th database will not open. It is located in the same shared folder as the other 3 databases, and has the same permissions. Sharing is turned on in the database (I have tried it both ways).

I brought the file over on a flash drive to mitigate permisions issues. I also tried matching permissions with a file that works.

When I start up the server, that file shows CLOSED, and when I try to open it, it blinks, stays closed. I can't figure out anything else to do!!

What am I missing???

Read the FM Server error log: it'll tell you that the file is damaged.

Make sure the file is closed in FMS, then open it with FileMaker Pro. Use the Save a Copy As... command to make a compressed copy (this processes rebuilds the file and usually removes the corruption). Rename the compressed copy to the original file's name and try hosting this new file. It should work.

If not, you need to go looking for a backup copy that isn't corrupted.

While you're at it, update the FM Server to the latest patch version, and do the same for *every* computer running FileMaker Pro. There were some nasty bugs in earlier versions of FMP 8.0 that cause data corruption problems.