strange vim startup/loading error

["Marc Wiatrowski" <wia iglass net>]

I recently upgraded a box from RHEL 3 to 4 and I'm now getting
the following error with vim when I edit one specific file.  All
other files seem to work without this error. 

E295: Read error in swap file
E316: ml_get: cannot find line 1
Hit ENTER or type command to continue

Everything seems to work fine on that file after I hit enter.  Its
just getting annoying mostly.

If I vi the same file on a box still running RHEL 3, I don't get
the error.  Both the RHEL 3 & 4 boxes are using vim 6.3 but different
patch levels 6.3.81 (RH 6.3.046-0.30E.4) vs 6.3.82 (RH 6.3.046-0.40E.7)

I also tried compiling my own current 6.4 version from source and then
even the 7.0e beta on the RHEL 4 box and still get the error.  Just for
kicks though I then compiled the 7.0e beta on the RHEL 3 box and I 
do not get the error!

I've tried renaming the file, creating a new file... same error.

Tried googling those errors but mostly just get the vim source code.
I can't really give out code for the file I am trying to edit either.

Anyone have any suggestions?

thanks,
marc