All-in-all an instructive evening! Trying a different USB port didn't help nor did attaching to my laptop, but a card reader worked; so I thought it has to be a defective cable. So, I get another cable, but still no luck. At this point I am thinking it has to be the mini-port on the camera, which would not be good news since 90% of my work is using the laptop connected to the camera running Helicon Remote. I try again this morning, and it worked! So, at this point tI am still worried that the mini-port might not be 100% reliable, and will have it looked at, but at least I am back in business.
Thanks for the suggestions