Could you please do the following:
 - Close OE
 - Disable temporarily all the antivirus / firewall applications
 - Right-click the OE shortcut and use Run as administrator
Does it change anything?
You don't see any model image (thumb) either, under the checkbox?

I tried what you said but doesn't make difference.

Hi,

Yes, one cannot use a template for a new project.

You can use the "choose your template in the library" button on the "new project" window.
Then you can choose a template by using "use this template" button on any free template page, but after you have been back on the "new project" window you still see "no template" message and consequently you cannot check "use a template" checkbox.
Version - 1.53R1

P.S. maybe we should create a new topic for this 1.53R1 version?

More than strange. And why do we not have this issue on our machines?.. Can someone else confirm this OE behavior, to know how often it occurs?

FYI
I deleted both versions (1.50 and 1.53) and then installed only new one - 1.53.
The problem still exists.

New version (1.53) differs from old one (1.50) in the "new project" window size and interface.

When starting a new project with a template you use two windows - the main window of OE where you are selecting a template and that small "new project" window where you enter a project name and inform OE if you are going to use any template.

And the problem is, after you has selected a template in the main OE window it does not transfer into the "new project" window (its image does not appear in the "new project" window), and, that is why, you cannot  inform OE which template you are going to use for a new project.

Hope, you have understood. :-)