Somehow hundreds of nwc files ended up in the Template folder. I removed them then installed 2.5.5. and now can use "New" without a problem. (Don't know how those files got in there other than through inadvertant key strokes.)
I have been using the latest upgrade for a week without problems but today the program crashed when I clicked "New" in the File Menu. When attempting to close the program I received the Windows (XP PRO) "Program does not respond message". Restarting did not help.
After I reinstalled both 2.1 and the 2.5.1 upgrade I did not have a problem starting a new file; but then after I installed the 2.5.5 upgrade the same problem reoccured.
Here is the Windows log : "Hanging application NWC2.exe, version 2.5.5.0, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000."
Is it a bug in this upgrade or could it be a local problem?