I am trying to open one of my autocad 2008 files 2

insert it into a blank drawing? Xref it into a blank drawing? Use Recovery utility?

Often corrupt files can be opened with a clone such as Intellicad.

There are several methods how to try to open a corrupted AutoCAD drawing file.
• Use the Recover command
• Open the file and press ESC key just before Regeneration/Error message, save to DXF, load, save as DWG, Audit
• Insert the complaining DWG as a block into an empty drawing
• Open/save the DWG in an older version of AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT or Actrix

Take a look on following useful resources and knowledge bases:

DWG Repair Toolbox

just to add, hope it maybe useful for this tips. right click the drawing file, under properties. look the previous versions tab.

As mentioned above, other dwg based programs may be "less picky" or more tolerant, Bricscad for instance.
Rhino is very tolerant and will often open (import) the file, but then you have import/export issues.

/RT