mysql load data local infile

Real basic: Can’t load a csv into an existing but empty database. Coming back to mysql after extended absence. Used to do this all the time in ver 4. now ver 5. error message says mysql can’t find the file (which I have put copies of all over the place and have pasted a copy of the patch into the command line surrounded by quotes, etc. This is a stand-alone, learning instance, no network involved. I suspect I may have set up improperly via a vis security. Not much in it yet so reinstalling from scratch properly is an available option.