Using Empty Level Adjustment in CS3

Operating System:
Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 3)
Software:
Adobe Design Premium CS3 (10.0.1)
Photoshop Lightroom 4.1 and Lightroom 2.0 - on Trial)
For reasons that I cannot fully explain all my images are now opening as "Smart Objects" rather than "Background Layers" in CS3
I have also lost the capacity to "Dodge" (Multiply blend mode) or "Burn" (Screen blend mode)images with empty "Levels" adjustment layers.
I am able to highlight the respective layer and create the empty Levels adjustment layer, change the blend mode to either Multiply or Screen, fill the Layer Mask with Black (Alt & backspace), change the opacity level as desired, select the brush tool and change the foreground colour to white to enable the applicable Dodge or Burn processes.
Unfortunately, it does not function irrespective of the preferred opacity level. The Dodge or Burn feature is static with no effect on the image.
I cannot recall any settings to open all files as Smart Objects in Photoshop CS3 but would welcome some help in identifying such a setting if it exists. Alternatively, I would welcome any other suggested methods of correcting the above difficulties.
Are any other users experiencing the same or similar issues or have any suggestions about the settings or possible suggestions to resolve these problems?
Respect to John Beardy for his guidance and suggestions about working differently with the "Smart Objects".
I would, however, welcome some help in regaining the capacity to work effectively with empty "Levels" adjustment layers.
Regards
Bob Wallace

Hi Pierre
I sometime use Lightroom to open the images without any issues. Other times I use a combination of Photoshop CS3 & Bridge. Bridge is set to automatically open with Photoshop and I use it as an image viewer prior to opening with Camera RAW 4.5 , then opened in CS3.
Thanks for the tips...........
Further respect and appreciation to John Beardy for his suggested solutions. He has hit the nail on the head on this occasion. There was a good measure of "Error Code" ID 10 T in there somewhere. I had previously created and saved a "Layer Option" to which I did not give any further consideration!!....this has been corrected.
Regards
Bob Wallace

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