Import Images as Planes Issue - Windows 10

Hello all!

Putting it out there: I’m a newbie when it comes to Blender and I’m having an issue I’ve yet to find a resolution for.

Import Images As Planes doesn’t work and instead gives me an error message. I’ve enabled the add-on in my User Preferences, I’ve attempted to import multiple image types with and without transparency in both Blender Render and Cycles, I’ve tried “Use Alpha” checked and unchecked, and the same error appears each time and nothing is added to the scene.

It’s the same issue as can be found here: http://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/41322/error-attempting-to-import-image-as-plane-in-blender-internal. There were multiple responses on that thread stating that an upgrade in the program version resolved the problem on other OS, but I’m already on the most recent version (2.76b) and still having the problem on Windows 10. Anyone have a suggestion?

Do you got exactly the same error (check_existing)?
Happens this only in a special directory?