File corruption problem

Hi.
I'm using Linux, and learning the commands bit by bit.
Coding on my MUD, I ran into a problem with a file.

 It didn't load properly.
Trying to look at it with 'pico', or 'vi' produced a '>' prompt, nothing else.
Trying to remove it, with 'rm filename' produced the same '>' prompt.
rm -f filename did the same.

I downloaded it, and could open it in a text editor. It had some mysterious
non-printing symbols. When I edited them out, it turned back into a normal
file, which I renamed and tested, though I wasn't able to replace the original
file with it.

So, I know this isn't quite the right newsgroup. But, I'd certainly appreciate
it if someone could point me in the right direction to finding out what the
file problem is, or point me to a useful newsgroup. 

Right now, I'm not so much concerned with finding out the root cause, as just
with finding out what's wrong with the file, and how on earth I remove it.


Thanks, 
Elisa

-- 

To reply directly, remove the obvious