diff --git a/common/project.cpp b/common/project.cpp
index 3e3c9cdf84..f031bf4b9e 100644
--- a/common/project.cpp
+++ b/common/project.cpp
@@ -23,18 +23,19 @@
  */
 
 
+#include <wx/stdpaths.h>
+
 #include <fctsys.h>
 #include <macros.h>
 #include <gr_basic.h>
 #include <pgm_base.h>
 #include <project.h>
-#include <wx/stdpaths.h>
+#include <confirm.h>
 #include <kicad_string.h>
 #include <config_params.h>
 #include <wildcards_and_files_ext.h>
 
 
-
 PROJECT::PROJECT()
 {
     memset( m_elems, 0, sizeof(m_elems) );
@@ -198,24 +199,21 @@ wxConfigBase* PROJECT::configCreate( const SEARCH_STACK& aSList, const wxString&
             const wxString& aGroupName, bool aForceUseLocalConfig )
 {
     wxConfigBase*   cfg = 0;
-    wxFileName      fn = aFileName;
 
+    wxFileName      fn = aFileName;
     fn.SetExt( ProjectFileExtension );
 
+    wxString        cur_pro_fn = fn.GetFullPath();
+
     // is there an edge transition, a change in m_project_filename?
-    if( m_project_name != fn )
+    if( m_project_name != cur_pro_fn )
     {
-        m_pcb_search.Clear();
         m_sch_search.Clear();
 
-        SetProjectFullName( fn.GetFullPath() );
-
         // to the empty lists, add project dir as first
-        m_pcb_search.AddPaths( fn.GetPath() );
         m_sch_search.AddPaths( fn.GetPath() );
 
         // append all paths from aSList
-        add_search_paths( &m_pcb_search, aSList, -1 );
         add_search_paths( &m_sch_search, aSList, -1 );
 
         // addLibrarySearchPaths( SEARCH_STACK* aSP, wxConfigBase* aCfg )
@@ -231,8 +229,6 @@ wxConfigBase* PROJECT::configCreate( const SEARCH_STACK& aSList, const wxString&
     // Init local config filename
     if( aForceUseLocalConfig || fn.FileExists() )
     {
-        wxString cur_pro_fn = fn.GetFullPath();
-
         cfg = new wxFileConfig( wxEmptyString, wxEmptyString, cur_pro_fn, wxEmptyString );
 
         cfg->DontCreateOnDemand();
@@ -265,31 +261,43 @@ wxConfigBase* PROJECT::configCreate( const SEARCH_STACK& aSList, const wxString&
         }
         else    // Version incorrect
         {
+            wxLogDebug( wxT( "Project file version is zero, not using this old project file, going with template.\n") );
             delete cfg;
             cfg = 0;
         }
     }
 
-    // Search for the template kicad.pro file by using caller's SEARCH_STACK.
+    // No suitable pro file was found, either does not exist, or is too old.
+    // Use the template kicad.pro file.  Find it by using caller's SEARCH_STACK.
 
     wxString kicad_pro_template = aSList.FindValidPath( wxT( "kicad.pro" ) );
 
     if( !kicad_pro_template )
     {
-        wxLogDebug( wxT( "Template file <kicad.pro> not found." ) );
+        wxLogDebug( wxT( "Template file <kicad.pro> not found using search paths." ) );
 
-        fn = wxFileName( wxStandardPaths::Get().GetDocumentsDir(),
-                         wxT( "kicad" ), ProjectFileExtension );
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        fn = kicad_pro_template;
+        wxFileName  templ( wxStandardPaths::Get().GetDocumentsDir(),
+                            wxT( "kicad" ), ProjectFileExtension );
+
+        if( !templ.IsFileReadable() )
+        {
+            wxString msg = wxString::Format( _( "Unable to find kicad.pro template file." ) );
+
+            DisplayError( NULL, msg );
+
+            return NULL;
+        }
+
+        kicad_pro_template = templ.GetFullPath();
     }
 
-    cfg = new wxFileConfig( wxEmptyString, wxEmptyString, wxEmptyString, fn.GetFullPath() );
+    // copy the template to cur_pro_fn, and open it at that destination.
+    wxCopyFile( kicad_pro_template, cur_pro_fn );
+    cfg = new wxFileConfig( wxEmptyString, wxEmptyString, wxEmptyString, cur_pro_fn );
+
     cfg->DontCreateOnDemand();
 
-    SetProjectFullName( fn.GetFullPath() );
+    SetProjectFullName( cur_pro_fn );
     return cfg;
 }
 
@@ -299,6 +307,12 @@ void PROJECT::ConfigSave( const SEARCH_STACK& aSList, const wxString&  aFileName
 {
     std::auto_ptr<wxConfigBase> cfg( configCreate( aSList, aFileName, aGroupName, FORCE_LOCAL_CONFIG ) );
 
+    if( !cfg.get() )
+    {
+        // could not find template
+        return;
+    }
+
     cfg->SetPath( wxCONFIG_PATH_SEPARATOR );
 
     cfg->Write( wxT( "update" ), DateAndTime() );
@@ -329,6 +343,12 @@ bool PROJECT::ConfigLoad( const SEARCH_STACK& aSList, const wxString& aFileName,
 {
     std::auto_ptr<wxConfigBase> cfg( configCreate( aSList, aFileName, aGroupName, false ) );
 
+    if( !cfg.get() )
+    {
+        // could not find template
+        return false;
+    }
+
     cfg->SetPath( wxCONFIG_PATH_SEPARATOR );
 
     wxString timestamp = cfg->Read( wxT( "update" ) );
diff --git a/include/project.h b/include/project.h
index 202d957eb8..a4928f4e5c 100644
--- a/include/project.h
+++ b/include/project.h
@@ -131,15 +131,6 @@ public:
     /// Accessor for Eeschema search stack.
     VTBL_ENTRY SEARCH_STACK&  SchSearchS()      { return m_sch_search; }
 
-    /**
-     * Function PcbSearchS
-     * returns the obsolete footprint library search stack.
-     * Projects created before the FP_LIB_TABLE support will have footprint
-     * search paths in the *.pro files.  Projects created after the FP_LIB_TABLE
-     * support will not.  This stack is used for conversion from old to new only.
-     */
-    VTBL_ENTRY SEARCH_STACK&  PcbSearchS()      { return m_pcb_search; }
-
     VTBL_ENTRY  wxString GetModuleLibraryNickname()     { return m_module_library_nickname; }
     VTBL_ENTRY  void SetModuleLibraryNickname( const wxString& aNickName ) {  m_module_library_nickname = aNickName; }