LR3.2 import problem on computer with Windows OS

Question

LR3.2 import problem on Windows OS
This is a continuation of a question that I posed on August 22, 2010 in the discussion string "Cannot import CR2".  I have not been able to resolve the issue of importing an image into an existing folder location.  I had not been able to work on this issue for a number of weeks due to other circumstances, until today.   Note that the following people had attempted to provide answers and suggestions already:  ssprengel, JayS In CT.
I use a laptop with a Windows operating system and a Macintosh desktop with Snow Leopard.  I run Lightroom on both of them.  The Windows laptop has Windows Vista Home service pack 2, version 6.0 [6002].  Around August 12th I upgraded from Lightroom 2 [481478], to Lightroom 3 on the laptop.  I left the LR2 on the laptop as well as LR3.  On September 12th I upgraded the laptop to LR3.2.  No other changes have been to the laptop or its software applications that I know of.
My current attempts at resolving the issue reveal that when I created a new catalog "Test Catalog" in LR3 and saved that catalog to my desktop new folder labeled "Test Catalog" that I can import an image into LR3.2 to a new folder on the laptop's desktop.  I then deleted the images via LR3.2 Folders Remove function and tried to import the images into an existing folder as presented in the LR3.2 Import dialog, but get the error message "The following files were not imported because they could not be read.".   When I import images into a new folder placed on the desktop, I can use all functions in LR3 e.g. Develop module.  I cannot import images into existing folders on the laptop's hard drive - I have tried importing into the entire existing folders in the following hierarchy:  c:\users\Michael\My Documents\My Pictures\2010  but always get the same error message.
LR3.2 does correctly backups upon exiting each time I quit the program, so I know that there isn't any issue of writing to that backup folder which is contained in an upper folder that contains the lightroom catalogs.  I have even created a new Word file, saved it into the folder with Lightroom catalogs, opened it up, modified it, saved it, and saw that it works OK, so that tells me there is no problem with a Read-Only folder attribute.
I cannot recall if upon the upgrade from LR2.6 to LR3 that I chose to upgrade the catalog to LR3 version.  Would that matter, if yes, what do I verify, how do I manual upgrade the catalog.
History of actions between August 10th that I have taken follows between the [[[[ and ]]]]:  
[[[[Preference settings for Default Catalog are set to start with a specific catalog that I call "Lightroom master catalog", it is not set to the "Load most recent catalog". 
All of the following were using my laptop:  Previously I had no problem with LR2 for any functions.  I just purchased an Epson 7000 media storage device, and in early August and practiced importing images into LR2, and those images were pulled in OK. Next, I upgraded to LR3.  I discovered that the Epson's images had been placed into a wrong folder when I opened LR3.  I used the remapping function in LR3 to move the images into the correct folder.  Next, I used a SanDisk card reader to import images into LR3 into an existing folder of images, but the following error message appeared "the following files were not imported because they could not be read" (Import Results said  'some import operations were not performed').  I tried importing a single image, and multiple images, but had the same error.  I tried switching the card reader to each of 4 different USB port on the laptop, with the same error occurring on each USB port used.
In order to try to isolate the problem.  I took the SanDisk card reader with the memory card and successfully imported the images into LR3 on my Macintosh desktop computer; so to me the problem is not the card reader or the memory card.  I also used the SanDisk recovery disk while using my laptop to look at the files on the memory card and I could see all the images correctly while in the recovery program, but I have not copied the images to the laptop's hard disk, and have not tried an import into the laptop's LR3.  I did not import images directly from my camera to the laptop LR3 since I did not think it would help with the troubleshooting. 
I then ran the Repair from the Adobe LR3 CD upgrade disk, on my laptop.  Then I tried doing the import using the SanDisk reader and memory card, but the same problem occurred and same error message, that the files could not be imported (I was trying to import into a folder of existing images).  I then used the Laptop's Control Panel function to remove LR3 application.  Then I did a fresh upgrade of LR3 on my laptop, but the same error message and I am unable to do any import of the memory card from the card reader.  I then tried to do an image import from the Epson 7000 into the laptop, and the same error message and I am unable to do any import into a folder with existing images.   I then tried doing an image import into LR2 on the laptop, and got the same problem to occur when trying to import into an existing folder of images.  I have a couple of  Canon EOS SLR digital cameras, and the issue occurs for any of the file types of the cameras.
Went into LR3 Preferences, General Tab, I now checked the previously unchecked box for Import Options - "Show import dialog when a memory card is detected".
Connected the Canon XTi directly with a cable to the laptop computer.  Note that Canon's information said that Picture Transfer Protocol is automatically used when the XTi is directly connected to a computer, so I did not need to change anything in the camera's menu for communications choices (there is no communication menu in fact).  I selected one image and copied it to the laptop desktop.  Tried to import it into LR3 into a folder of existing images but got the error message "Could not copy a file to the requested location."  While in LR3, I changed the location of where the file would be copied into - any of my existing folders of images; tried 5 different folders, but kept getting the same error message.
With the card reader connected via USB port on the laptop, I copied one image file to the desktop, and then tried importing into LR3 into a folder of existing images.  Got the error message "Could not copy a file to the requested location."]]]]

Answer 1

I am not clear if by 'import' you are trying to copy or move the files from a location to another or if you are adding the files to a catalog.  My comments may not, therefore, be too helpful.
Firstly, with both LR2 and LR3 installed you will have both catalogs present, but if you try to open the LR2 catalog with LR3 you will be prompted to update the catalog.  You will thus know which catalog you are working on. 
Secondly, if you are reading direct from the camera, you should connect using the 'PC connection' mode.
Thirdly, there is an issue with reading .CR2 files directly from the early Canon DSLRs (in Europe named 300D, 350D, 400D).  While they are visible with the Canon software, they can not be seen with Windows explorer nor can they be accessed with Lightroom. 
I suggest that you take the CF card out of the camera and copy the files using Windows Explorer in to the destination folder.  You are then sure that the files are on the PC.
If you have the right Codec installed, you can view them with Windows photo gallery; if you don't, you can use one of the Canon software packages to view the files.  You are then sure that the files are not corrupted.
Then import the files to your LR catalog using the normal import routine selecting 'add without moving'.  I have tried this routine  successfully using my 350D using both LR1.x and LR3.x.  If that doesn't work - I'm lost.
Frank