yes just make sure you dont save over your old save in the menu during gameplay
It will ask you when you start a new character if you would like to import an ME1 character. You then select the storage location of that character (removable storage, HDD, etc) and select which character you would like to import.
If you mean how to start a new Mass Effect 2 game using a previous character profile, you can simply start a new game and when you choose a character, tell it to use the saved one from another game.
No, you have to complete the whole main story mode and depending on what level your at you'll start off with some xp in mass effec 2
Yes. Mass Effect is a good game series and you should start playing the Mass effect 1 on PS 3.
If you don't import a save game from Mass Effect, you will automatically choose the character of the opposite gender to survive. If you play Mass Effect first, though, you can choose if you want Ashley or Kaidan to survive. So to play Mass Effect 2 as a female and with Ashley alive, you would have to play Mass Effect and let Kaidan die on Virmire.
Using Steam, click play Mass Effect 2. A window should pop up asking whether you want to start ME2 or ME2 launcher. Select the Launcher and once it comes up click on Configuration. In configuration there will be an option to load a save from ME1. Once you select the save file you want, launch ME2 then select start new game and use imported ME1 character.
Mass Effect 2 will use the latest playthrough of your character. It can't use an older one because when you restart with your character, his missions are completely reset, only your equipment and stats remain.
The recruitable mercenary on Mass Effect 2 is Zaeed Massani, a character that is downloadable via Cerberus Network.
You can't change your character class after you have created and locked in your character for the game without starting a new one and losing all of your current progress.
Yes you can, it doesn't make a difference.
All Mass Effect games work from each others save game files, although you can only import a saved ME character or game to ME2 and then import a saved ME2 character or game to ME3. The same would most likely apply to future ME games.
Unfortunately, you cannot. You have to make an entirely new character. However on ME2, all the Shepards you have made will be available for import.